World News
‘We’ve got to rally together’: Nova Scotians mourn after mass shooting
RCMP say some of the victims were known to the gunman, while others were not known to him and it’s not clear why they were targeted.Chief Supt. Chris Leather spoke to media at a news briefing on Monday afternoon. (CBC)RCMP confirmed Monday that at least 19 people are dead after a lone gunman’s rampage, leaving families and communities…
RCMP say some of the victims were known to the gunman, while others were not known to him and it's not clear why they were targeted.
RCMP confirmed Monday that at least 19 people are dead after a lone gunman's rampage, leaving families and communities across Nova Scotia devastated.
Chief Supt. Chris Leather said at a news briefing Monday afternoon that some of the victims were known to the gunman, while others were not known to him.
Leather said officers are currently at 16 crime scenes spread across Portapique, N.S. and other nearby communities.
Leather said there were five structure fires and so far they have been unable to fully examine these crime scenes, as most of them are residences and there may be victims still within the remains of those homes which burned to the ground.
He also said on Monday that police have put in two additional referrals to the province's Serious Incident Response Team, which investigated police-involved fatalities. Leather said he could not provide further details, other than to say it involved the “use of force issue.”
Gunman had police uniform, fake cruiser
At one point during bloody 12-hour rampage, the suspected shooter even wore a police uniform and drove a mock-up of a police cruiser.
Leather said the gunman's ability to move around the province undetected was “greatly benefitted” by the fact he had a car made to resemble an RCMP vehicle. But Leather said that vehicle was not a real police cruiser.
As for the uniform, Leather said it was still unclear whether it was a very good duplicate or the real thing.
Officer who was shot out of hospital
Leather said an RCMP officer who was injured, Cst. Chad Morrison, is now recovering at home from gunshot wounds.
“This is obviously good news and we will be there to provide support,” he said.
Leather said they have set up a condolences page for RCMP Const. Heidi Stevenson, who was killed Sunday.
“We have lost one of our own while she was protecting others. This is the definition of a true hero,” he said.
In the coming days, Leather said they will provide the public with a timeline with specific locations. He said there are no additional suspects and police do not believe there is any other threat.
‘You can't believe it's still happening'
On Monday, Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil said the province is reeling.
“We can't explain what happened,” said McNeil. “Every time you hear of another phase to this story you can't believe it's still happening.”
McNeil said he's heartbroken and that it's difficult to grasp “the depth and breadth of the pain and suffering.” He called on all Nova Scotians to express their love and support to the families of the victims, and to one another.
“The innocence of the province cannot be let go of. We cannot allow a tragedy as deep and as painful and as hard as [this] determine what our communities are going to be like.”
RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki talks to Ian Hanomansing about what’s known about the shooting rampage in rural Nova Scotia that killed 16 people and why it may have occurred. 3:09
‘A sense of presence and comfort'
Steve Adams is the lead pastor at Faith Baptist Church in Great Village, N.S., about ten kilometres east of Portapique, N.S., where the first reports of an active shooter were reported.
Adams said he's in shock at the losses to his community.
“I know that the families that have been devastated by this are multiple and my heart goes out to them,” he said.
Adams is struggling to figure out how to help his community mourn without being able to physically come together because of COVID-19. Public health orders make it difficult to provide “a sense of presence and comfort,” he said.
“I am thankful for social media, even the technology we are using today is helpful, but it's not quite the same.”
Adams said the community is starting to plan a virtual vigil to take place later this week.
Signs of support
In Portapique, a sign of condolence was posted Sunday on a telephone pole by Dave Brown, who lives in the community.
Between images of two broken hearts was the message: “Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the community.”
“It's still unbelievable,” said Brown. “When stuff like this happens, we've got to rally together as people with loved ones in the community and just show everybody bad things happen, but we're still good people here.”
MORE TOP STORIES
Subscribe to Centenunlimited news
We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe
