At least 19 people, including a police officer and the gunman, were killed during a shooting in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.
A 51-year-old man, identified by police as Gabriel Wortman, allegedly opened fire in the small, rural town of Portapique late Saturday. Police responded to a “firearms complaint” that turned into an “active shooter” situation and found several bodies inside and outside of a home, which officers called the first scene.
The suspect was able to flee, launching on a 55-mile escape bid in what authorities believe was a vehicle designed to look like a police car before reportedly changing cars. Police officers later cornered him at a gas station on Sunday.
In the 12-hour rampage, a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer and several others were killed before the chase ended. The suspect was arrested, and police later said he had died. The deceased officer has been identified as Constable Heidi Stevenson, a mother of two and 23-year veteran of the force.
“In excess of 10 people have been killed,” RCMP Chief Superintendent Chris Leather said. “We believe it to be one person who is responsible for all the killings, and that he alone moved across the northern part of the province and committed what appears to be several homicides.”
Authorities currently do not have a motive for the shooting, and Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil called it “one of the most senseless acts of violence in our province’s history.” The attack marked the deadliest shooing in the nation’s history after surpassing the death toll of a 1989 incident that left 14 women dead.
“My heart goes out to everyone affected in what is a terrible situation,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said.
