What’s that about gun laws in Canada?
Nova Scotia authorities have begun investigating the shooting of a gunman who may have been disguised as a police officer and went on 12-hour rampage that left 16 people dead in a small town.
A confrontation with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police began after a manhunt for the fleeing suspect overnight Saturday. Multiple crime scenes and hours of evasion later, the gunman was killed Sunday in a shootout with police. Nova Scotia Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) took over the investigation into the death, according to a statement from SiRT.
Gabriel Wortman, 51, was identified as the suspect and was confirmed dead by RCMP Chief Superintendent Chris Leather.
The motive behind the shooting, one of Canada’s deadliest, is still under investigation, Leather said. Some victims, he said, “appeared not to have a relationship with the assailant shooter.”
The chaos began when police were first called to a property around 10:30 p.m. Saturday. “When police arrived at the scene the members located several casualties inside and outside of the home,” Leather said.
One of those killed was Constable Heidi Stevenson, a mother of two and 23-year veteran of the RCMP. Another officer is in the hospital receiving treatment for non-life-threatening injuries he suffered in the incident, the RCMP said on Facebook.
RCMP were led to several crime scenes miles apart beginning in Portapique and stretching to Enfield, where the suspect was found, Leather said. Wortman was believed to have been wearing part of what looked to be an RCMP uniform, and may have been driving a vehicle made to look like a police car, Leather said.
“The fact that this individual had a uniform and a police car at his disposal certainly speaks to it not being a random act.”
Chris Leather
RCMP Chief Superintendent
Police told the public on Twitter the gunman may have been wearing a RCMP uniform and driving a silver Chevrolet Tracker that appeared to be a police vehicle, but had a specific number — 28B11. They clarified that he was not employed by the RCMP.
Calamity Jane