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==Victims==
==Victims==
At least 18 people were killed (excluding the suspect), one of them a 23-year veteran RCMP officer, Constable Heidi Stevenson. A second RCMP officer was injured and is in stable condition.<ref name="CBC" /><ref name=global-news-rcmp-active-shooter-portapique-n-s /> At least one other person was also injured.<ref name="CBC" /> According to Commissioner [[Brenda Lucki]], some of the first victims had connections to Wortman, but as the killings continued, the targets became more random.<ref name=nyt-nova-scotia-shooting-gabriel-wortman/> The victims, several others of whom were also women, including an elementary school teacher and a nurse,<ref name="BBC-52346447">{{cite web |title=Gunman kills at least 16 in rural Canada |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-52346447 |website=BBC News |accessdate=20 April 2020 |date=20 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420075915/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-52346447 |archive-date=April 20, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> are believed to have died from gunshot wounds, but other causes are also being investigated.<ref name="BBC-52346447" /><ref name="CBC3" />
At least 18 people were killed (excluding the suspect), one of them a 23-year veteran RCMP officer, Constable Heidi Stevenson. A second RCMP officer was injured and is in stable condition.<ref name="CBC" /><ref name=global-news-rcmp-active-shooter-portapique-n-s /> At least one other person was also injured.<ref name="CBC" /> According to Commissioner [[Brenda Lucki]], some of the first victims had connections to Wortman, but as the killings continued, the targets became more random.<ref name=nyt-nova-scotia-shooting-gabriel-wortman/> The victims included an elementary school teacher and a nurse,<ref name="BBC-52346447">{{cite web |title=Gunman kills at least 16 in rural Canada |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-52346447 |website=BBC News |accessdate=20 April 2020 |date=20 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420075915/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-52346447 |archive-date=April 20, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> are believed to have died from gunshot wounds, but other causes are also being investigated.<ref name="BBC-52346447" /><ref name="CBC3" />


==Reactions==
==Reactions==

Revision as of 14:48, 20 April 2020

Nova Scotia killings
Map
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50km
30miles
Enfield, NS
Enfield, Nova Scotia
Portapique, NS
Portapique, Nova Scotia
LocationNova Scotia, Canada
DateApril 18, 2020 (2020-04-18) –
April 19, 2020 (2020-04-19) (UTC−03:00)
Attack type
Spree shooting, arson, mass murder
WeaponsFirearm, fires
DeathsAt least 19 (including the perpetrator)
InjuredAt least 2
PerpetratorGabriel Wortman
MotiveUnder investigation

A spree killing comprising shootings and arson took place in the northern part of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, between April 18 and 19, 2020. The perpetrator was 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman[1] who killed at least 18 people before being killed by police following a car chase.[1][2][3][4] Among the victims was a Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer, and there were at least two people who were injured.

It is the deadliest attack of its kind in Canadian history.[5] Police say the motive has not yet been established.[3]

Killings

At 11:32 p.m. (UTC -3) on April 18,[1] police responded to multiple 9-1-1 calls regarding a gun-related incident in the small community of Portapique, 130 kilometres (81 mi) north of Halifax.[3][6][7][8] They found several dead and injured inside and outside a home, but not the suspect.[9]

The investigation overnight led police to many crime scenes that were scattered over at least 50 kilometres (31 mi).[8] At around 8:00 a.m. on April 19, police announced that they were dealing with an active shooter situation. Residents were advised by the RCMP to stay indoors, while a portion of the town was evacuated.[3][6][10] Three buildings and two cars were reported burning, which required a firefighter response.[1][3][11]

Gabriel Wortman, age 51, was identified as the shooter at 8:54 a.m. on April 19.[1] Between 10:04 and 11:24, Wortman was sighted in Debert, Brookfield, and Milford.[1][11] In the same time-frame, the public was warned that he might be posing as an RCMP officer and operating a vehicle made to look like an RCMP cruiser,[6][11][12] and that he was travelling on Highway 4 near Glenholme.[13] Residents were urged to avoid the area.[14] Police asked the public to call 9-1-1 immediately if they spotted the vehicle.[9] Another hour later, they said he switched to a silver Chevrolet Tracker sports utility vehicle.[6][15]

Nearly twelve hours after police first received the firearms complaint,[16] Wortman was killed by police outside a gas station restaurant at the Irving Oil Big Stop in Enfield, about 92 kilometres (57 mi) south of Portapique and about 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Halifax.[6][11] The Serious Incident Response Team announced it would be conducting an investigation into the officer-involved shooting.[1]

Perpetrator

The shooter was identified as 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman, a denturist working in the Halifax area. He owned real estate in Portapique and Dartmouth.[1][17] He attended Riverview High School in New Brunswick and aspired to be a police officer.[18] Wortman was shown to have had a degree of obsession for policing, having a hobby of buying law enforcement memorabilia and refurbishing old police cruisers. One person called Wortman's home a "shrine" for the RCMP.[19] He stored the two police cruisers he bought near his dental clinic.[18]

No motive has been established for the killings, and it is not considered by authorities to be an act of terrorism.[3] However, neighbors said that Wortman struggled with alcoholism, and his profitable business was impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, which forced all non-essential dental services to cease.[19][20]

Victims

At least 18 people were killed (excluding the suspect), one of them a 23-year veteran RCMP officer, Constable Heidi Stevenson. A second RCMP officer was injured and is in stable condition.[1][14] At least one other person was also injured.[1] According to Commissioner Brenda Lucki, some of the first victims had connections to Wortman, but as the killings continued, the targets became more random.[3] The victims included an elementary school teacher and a nurse,[21] are believed to have died from gunshot wounds, but other causes are also being investigated.[21][8]

Reactions

Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil told reporters, "This is one of the most senseless acts of violence in our province's history." He expressed his condolences to the residents affected and the families of the victims.[22] Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also expressed his condolences.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "RCMP officer among 17 confirmed dead in Nova Scotia killing spree". CBC News. April 19, 2020. Archived from the original on April 19, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  2. ^ "Death toll hits 19 in Canada's worst mass shooting".
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Diaz, Johnny; Bilefsky, Dan (April 19, 2020). "At Least 16 Killed in Nova Scotia Shooting, Police Say". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 19, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  4. ^ Blatchford, Andy (April 19, 2020). "Gunman kills at least 16, including officer, in Nova Scotia". Politico. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  5. ^ Gillies, Rob (April 19, 2020). "16 killed in shooting rampage, deadliest in Canadian history". Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 19, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Timeline: How an active-shooter situation unfolded in Nova Scotia". CBC News. April 19, 2020. Archived from the original on April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  7. ^ Madani, Doha; Stelloh, Tim (April 19, 2020). "16 dead, including officer, in shooting, Canadian authorities say". NBC News. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  8. ^ a b c "Nova Scotia mass killings: What we know and what we don't know". CBC News. April 19, 2020. Archived from the original on April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  9. ^ a b Deliso, Meredith (April 19, 2020). "16 dead, including police officer, in deadliest shooting in Canadian history". ABC News. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  10. ^ "Nova Scotia shooting: Gabriel Wortman kills 16 including police officer in Canada's deadliest shooting attack". MassLive. April 19, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  11. ^ a b c d Jerrett, Andrea (April 19, 2020). "At least 17 people killed in N.S. shooting; deadliest such attack in Canada: police". CTV News. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  12. ^ Shah, Maryam (April 19, 2020). "Timeline of what we know about Nova Scotia killing spree that left RCMP officer, 16 others dead". Global News. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  13. ^ Lopez-Martinez, Melissa (April 19, 2020). "A timeline of the deadly shooting incident in Nova Scotia". CTV News. Archived from the original on April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  14. ^ a b Quon, Alexander; Stephenson, Mercedes (April 19, 2020). "17 dead, including one RCMP officer, after shooting spree in Portapique, N.S." Global News. Archived from the original on April 19, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  15. ^ "Canada shooting: Gunman kills at least 16 in rural Canada". BBC News. April 19, 2020. Archived from the original on April 19, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  16. ^ Collins, Sean (April 19, 2020). "What we know about a mass shooting in Nova Scotia, Canada". Vox. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  17. ^ Cecco, Leyland (April 19, 2020). "Nova Scotia shooting: shock and surprise at killings by denturist". The Guardian. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  18. ^ a b "'Just unbelievable': Neighbours of Nova Scotia shooting suspect shocked by news". Atlantic. April 19, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  19. ^ a b Woo, Andrew; Mercer, Greg (April 19, 2020). "Nova Scotia mass shooter was a denturist with an obsession for policing". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  20. ^ Magra, Iliana (April 20, 2020). "After Nova Scotia Shooting, Families Mourn as Police Seek a Motive" – via NYTimes.com.
  21. ^ a b "Gunman kills at least 16 in rural Canada". BBC News. April 20, 2020. Archived from the original on April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  22. ^ Jerrett, Andrea (April 19, 2020). "Shooting 'one of the most senseless acts of violence' in Nova Scotia's history: premier". CTV News. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
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