At least 16 people were killed by a gunman in a 12-hour rampage that began in Portapique late Saturday night and ended in the parking lot of an Enfield gas station Sunday.
An RCMP officer, Const. Heidi Stevenson, was among the deceased.
RCMP said the gunman, identified as Gabriel Wortman, also died.
“I can tell you in excess of 10 people have been killed,” Chief Supt. Chris Leather said Sunday evening at a news conference at the Nova Scotia RCMP headquarters in Dartmouth.
“It almost certainly will be more than 10. How much more than 10, I do not know.”
Later Sunday night, RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki told media police know at least 16 people, aside from the shooter, were killed.
The mass shooting was the deadliest in Canada's history, surpassing that at Montreal's l'Ecole Polytechnique in December 1989, when a gunman killed 14 women before taking his own life.
The deadly spree started as multiple 911 calls from concerned residents hearing gunshots in the area of Portapique Beach Road, Bay Shore Road and Five Houses Road in Portapique just after 11:30 p.m. Saturday.
“When police arrived at the scene, members located several casualties inside and outside of the home," Leather told reporters. "They did not, however, locate the suspect.
“This was a very quickly evolving situation and a chaotic scene.”
RCMP escalated their response, which led to multiple areas with buildings set on fire, as Wortman remained at large.
Wortman, a denturist with clinics on Portland Street in Dartmouth and Novalea Drive in Halifax, had two properties on Portapique Beach Road and one on Orchard Beach Drive in Portapique registered in his name.
The RCMP’s manhunt for the 51-year-old man, who was driving a mock-up police cruiser and wearing an RCMP uniform, continued as he moved through Glenholme, Central Onslow, Debert and Milford on Sunday morning.
Shubenacadie resident Catherine Harrop was working at the Chill Street Craft Beverage outlet in the Sobeys Elmsdale Plaza when police descended on it at about 11:10 a.m. This was shortly after an RCMP encounter with the suspect in nearby Shubenacadie that left two vehicles in flames on Highway 2.
"Two of the armoured SWAT vehicles pulled up out front, and a bunch of armed officers in camo got out," Harrop said. "Two of them came into the Sobeys and some of the others walked through the parking lot. The ones that came inside told everyone to go into lockdown, lock all the doors, turn off all the lights and stay away from the windows until they gave us the go-ahead to open up again."
Harrop saw a group of officers return to their vehicle and leave the parking lot, heading towards the residential area of Elmsdale, while the remaining handful of armed officers continued to sweep through the parking lot.
Through the window, Harrop could see police cars blocking all access to and from the main highway.
"Oh yeah, on-ramps, off-ramps, and one of my co-workers later told me she could see RCMP cars all along the highway, I guess in case he did make it back onto the main highway," Harrop said.
Wortman was reported to have swapped vehicles and was spotted driving a silver Chevrolet SUV.
East Hants Coun. Heather Smith lives on Highway 2 in Lantz and had no idea what was happening when she saw an emergency vehicle race by her home Sunday at around 10:30 a.m.
Shortly after that, Smith said she received a call telling her to go to her basement immediately. She said she began calling everyone she knew, telling them to do the same.
“I knew there had been an incident outside of Truro but I didn’t know the extent of the danger," Smith said. “I didn’t know that the area of Milford, Lantz, Enfield and Elmsdale were in any type of danger. There was nothing to alarm me that we would be.”
Shortly after, Paula Hanrahan was driving home when flashing lights in the parking lot at the Irving Big Stop in Enfield caught her attention.
"As I was pulling over, I could see the back end of a silver SUV and, oh my dear, there were more men than I could count in full gear with 'Police' on the back and assault rifles in their hands," Hanrahan said.
Hanrahan said the SUV, parked beside a gas pump, was surrounded by police and an officer was on the roof, pointing a rifle into the vehicle.
"All you could hear were the dogs growling, clawing at the pavement to get to this vehicle, and men yelling," Hanrahan said.
Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the shooting in Nova Scotia. To the Portapique community, we’re keeping all of you in our thoughts. And on behalf of all Canadians, I want you to know that we’re here for you - and we’ll be here for you in the days and weeks ahead.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) April 19, 2020
Just after 11:30 a.m., RCMP said they had Wortman "in custody" after he was stopped at the gas station — about a 90-kilometre drive south of Portapique.
Leather couldn’t comment on the shooter's motive, saying the investigation is in its very early stages and involves multiple crime scenes across the province.
“The fact that this individual had a uniform and a police car at his disposal certainly speaks to it not being a random act,” he said, adding some of the killings appear to be random in nature.
Both of Wortman's denture clinics were cordoned off by Halifax Regional Police on Sunday afternoon.
The Serious Incident Response Team, Nova Scotia's police watchdog, said it is investigating the shooting of the man by officers in Enfield.
#Colchester: Gabriel Wortman may be driving what appears to be an RCMP vehicle & may be wearing an RCMP uniform. There's 1 difference btwn his car and our RCMP vehicles: the car #. The suspect's car is 28B11, behind rear passenger window. If you see 28B11 call 911 immediately. pic.twitter.com/yyeOeBt8Ui
— RCMP, Nova Scotia (@RCMPNS) April 19, 2020
51-year-old Gabriel Wortman is the suspect in our active shooter investigation in #Portapique. There are several victims. He is considered armed & dangerous. If you see him, call 911. DO NOT approach. He’s described as a white man, bald, 6’2-6’3 with green eyes. pic.twitter.com/Y2nJNULlkn
— RCMP, Nova Scotia (@RCMPNS) April 19, 2020
"Today is a devastating day for Nova Scotia and it will remain etched in the minds of many for years to come," said Assistant Commissioner Lee Bergerman, the RCMP's commanding officer for Nova Scotia.
"What has unfolded overnight and into this morning is incomprehensible and many families are experiencing the loss of a loved one. That includes our own RCMP family.
"Earlier this afternoon, I met with Heidi’s family and there are no words to describe their pain. Two children have lost their mother and a husband his wife. Parents lost their daughter and countless others lost an incredible friend and colleague."
Bergerman said another RCMP officer was wounded and was in hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
On Sunday, Jenny Kierstad wrote on Facebook that her sister, Lisa McCully was among those killed.
"This is so hard to write but many of you will want to know," Kierstad posted. "Our hearts are broken today as we attempt to accept the loss of my sister, Lisa McCully, who was one of the victims of the mass shooting in Portapique last night. Our condolences go out to the other family members who are affected by this tragedy. Thank you for your support, it's a hard day."
Darcy Dobson posted that she lost her mother to "a monster" who "murdered her without a second thought." She described her mom, Heather O'Brien, whom she last heard from via text only about 15 minutes before she was killed..
"I want everyone to remember how kind she was. How much she loved being a nurse," Dobson wrote on Facebook. "The way her eyes sparkled when she talked to her grandchildren and the way she just LOVED Christmas. Let those things define her. Not the horrible way she died."
Premier Stephen McNeil talked about the shootings at the beginning of Sunday's COVID-19 briefing in Halifax.
"This is one of the most senseless acts of violence in the province's history," McNeil said, adding his condolences to the victims and his thanks to the RCMP.
"What happened here in our province is not who we are," he said.
"It may change us a little but it cannot define us. We are strong, we are community-minded and we take care of each other. So let's do that now. Let's do that together."
With files from Stephen Cooke and Andrew Rankin
