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== Perpetrator ==
== Perpetrator ==
The RCMP identified Wortman, a [[denturist]] working in the Halifax area, on April 19th after he was pronounced dead. He owned real estate in Portapique and [[Dartmouth, Nova Scotia|Dartmouth]].<ref name="CBC"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/20/nova-scotia-shooting-gunman-profile-quiet-gentle-denturist|title=Nova Scotia shooting: shock and surprise at killings by denturist|first=Leyland|last=Cecco|date=April 19, 2020|accessdate=April 19, 2020|website=The Guardian}}</ref> He attended [[Riverview High School (New Brunswick)|Riverview High School]] in New Brunswick and aspired to be a police officer.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/just-unbelievable-neighbours-of-nova-scotia-shooting-suspect-shocked-by-news-1.4903021|title='Just unbelievable': Neighbours of Nova Scotia shooting suspect shocked by news|date=2020-04-19|website=CTV News|language=en|access-date=2020-04-20}}</ref> Wortman had previously made news in 2014 for offering to make dentures free of charge for a [[cancer survivor]].<ref name="nyt-nova-scotia-shooting-gabriel-wortman" />
The RCMP identified Wortman, a [[denturist]] working in the Halifax area, on April 19th after he was pronounced dead. He owned real estate in Portapique and [[Dartmouth, Nova Scotia|Dartmouth]].<ref name="CBC"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/20/nova-scotia-shooting-gunman-profile-quiet-gentle-denturist|title=Nova Scotia shooting: shock and surprise at killings by denturist|first=Leyland|last=Cecco|date=April 19, 2020|accessdate=April 19, 2020|website=The Guardian}}</ref> He attended [[Riverview High School (New Brunswick)|Riverview High School]] in New Brunswick and aspired to be a police officer.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/just-unbelievable-neighbours-of-nova-scotia-shooting-suspect-shocked-by-news-1.4903021|title='Just unbelievable': Neighbours of Nova Scotia shooting suspect shocked by news|date=2020-04-19|website=CTV News|language=en|access-date=2020-04-20}}</ref>


Wortman was shown to have had a degree of obsession for policing, with a hobby of buying law enforcement memorabilia and refurbishing old police cruisers. One person called Wortman's home a "shrine" for the RCMP.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-nova-scotia-mass-shooter-was-a-denturist-with-an-obsession-for/|title=Nova Scotia mass shooter was a denturist with an obsession for policing|publisher=The Globe and Mail|last1=Woo|first1=Andrew|last2=Mercer|first2=Greg|date=April 19, 2020|accessdate=April 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420055810/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-nova-scotia-mass-shooter-was-a-denturist-with-an-obsession-for/|archive-date=April 20, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> He stored the two police cruisers he bought near his dental clinic.<ref name=":1" />
Wortman was shown to have had a degree of obsession for policing, with a hobby of buying law enforcement memorabilia and refurbishing old police cruisers. One person called Wortman's home a "shrine" for the RCMP.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-nova-scotia-mass-shooter-was-a-denturist-with-an-obsession-for/|title=Nova Scotia mass shooter was a denturist with an obsession for policing|publisher=The Globe and Mail|last1=Woo|first1=Andrew|last2=Mercer|first2=Greg|date=April 19, 2020|accessdate=April 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420055810/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-nova-scotia-mass-shooter-was-a-denturist-with-an-obsession-for/|archive-date=April 20, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> He stored the two police cruisers he bought near his dental clinic.<ref name=":1" />

Revision as of 21:11, 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
WeaponsHandgun, fires
DeathsAt least 20 (including the perpetrator)
InjuredAt least 2
PerpetratorGabriel Wortman
MotiveUnder investigation

The Nova Scotia killings took place between April 18 and April 19, 2020 in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia when Gabriel Wortman shot and killed at least 19 people and set fire to at least five buildings before being killed by the police following a car chase.[1][2] The attack took place from the late hours of April 18 to the evening of April 19 and ended when Wortman was shot dead by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Enfield.[citation needed]

It is the deadliest attack involving the use of firearms in Canadian history, surpassing the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre, during which 15 people were killed.[3] Police say the motive has not yet been established.[4][5]

Timeline

At 11:32 p.m. (UTC-3) on April 18,[1] police responded to multiple 911 calls regarding a gun-related incident in the community of Portapique, 130 kilometres (81 mi) north of Halifax.[4][6][7][8] They found several dead and injured inside and outside of a home, but no suspect.[9] The investigation overnight led police to multiple separate crime scenes that were scattered over a distance of at least 50 kilometres (31 mi).[8] By the morning of April 19, police announced that they were dealing with an active shooter situation.

Then, at around 8:00 a.m., a 9-1-1 caller reported "an explosion and gunfire" at a house on Hunter Road in Wentworth, approximately 37 kilometres (23 mi) north of Portapique. Two residents and a neighbour were later confirmed to be victims. Another victim was then allegedly shot and killed while walking in the community of Wentworth Valley, on the road between Wentworth and Portapique.[10]

Residents were advised by the RCMP to stay indoors, while a portion of Portapique was evacuated.[4][6][11] Wortman was identified as the shooter at 8:54 a.m.[1] Between 10:04 and 11:24, he was sighted in or near Glenholme, Debert, Brookfield, and Milford.[1][12] During this time, police warned that he was dressed as an RCMP officer and operating a replica RCMP vehicle.[6][12][13][14] The public was urged to avoid these areas,[15] and to call 9-1-1 immediately if they spotted the fake RCMP vehicle.[9] An hour later, officials said that Wortman had switched to a silver Chevrolet Tracker sports utility vehicle (SUV).[6][16]

Around this time, the community of Shubenacadie was named as the site of a "serious criminal event."[1] A resident of the community reported that they saw two burning vehicles along Nova Scotia Trunk 2, including at least one police car, and that they heard an exchange of gunfire between an RCMP officer and a man who ran toward them.[17] Officials later stated that this was where Wortman shot and killed RCMP Constable Heidi Stevenson, and that one of the burning cars was Wortman's replica RCMP vehicle.[18]

Nearly twelve hours after police first received the firearms complaint,[19] 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][12] The Serious Incident Response Team announced it would be conducting an investigation into the officer-involved shooting, and at least two other police use-of-force incidents.[1][18]

By the afternoon of April 20, RCMP Chief Superintendent Chris Leather stated that there were 16 crime scenes in total, including five structure fires. He said that he expected the death toll to continue to rise as these were investigated further.[18]

Victims

At least 19 people were killed (excluding Wortman), one of them Constable Stevenson, a 23-year veteran of the police force. A second RCMP officer was injured and is in stable condition.[1][15] According to Commissioner Brenda Lucki, some of the first victims had connections to Wortman, but as the killings continued, the targets became more random.[4] The victims, who included an elementary school teacher and a nurse,[20] are believed to have died from gunshot wounds, but other causes are also being investigated.[8][20]

Perpetrator

The RCMP identified Wortman, a denturist working in the Halifax area, on April 19th after he was pronounced dead. He owned real estate in Portapique and Dartmouth.[1][21] He attended Riverview High School in New Brunswick and aspired to be a police officer.[22]

Wortman was shown to have had a degree of obsession for policing, with a hobby of buying law enforcement memorabilia and refurbishing old police cruisers. One person called Wortman's home a "shrine" for the RCMP.[23] He stored the two police cruisers he bought near his dental clinic.[22]

No motive has been established for the killings, and it is not considered by authorities to be an act of terrorism.[4] However, neighbours 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.[23][24]

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.[25] Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also expressed his condolences.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "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. ^ "RCMP say 'in excess of 19 victims' in N.S. rampage". CTV News. April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b c d e 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.
  5. ^ Blatchford, Andy (April 19, 2020). "Gunman kills at least 16, including officer, in Nova Scotia". Politico. Retrieved April 20, 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. ^ "Teacher, family of 3 and RCMP officer among victims of N.S. shooting rampage". CBC News. April 19, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  11. ^ "Nova Scotia shooting: Gabriel Wortman kills 16 including police officer in Canada's deadliest shooting attack". MassLive. April 19, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  12. ^ a b c 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ "RCMP officer among the dead after Nova Scotia gunman's rampage". CBC News. April 19, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  18. ^ a b c "Death toll from Nova Scotia gunman's rampage climbs to 19". CBC News. April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  19. ^ Collins, Sean (April 19, 2020). "What we know about a mass shooting in Nova Scotia, Canada". Vox. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  20. ^ 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.
  21. ^ Cecco, Leyland (April 19, 2020). "Nova Scotia shooting: shock and surprise at killings by denturist". The Guardian. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
  22. ^ a b "'Just unbelievable': Neighbours of Nova Scotia shooting suspect shocked by news". CTV News. April 19, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ Magra, Iliana (April 20, 2020). "After Nova Scotia Shooting, Families Mourn as Police Seek a Motive" – via NYTimes.com.
  25. ^ 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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