UPDATE 4/20/2020 @ 12:10 am EST
Police have revised the death toll after finding other victims, bringing the new total of deaths to 16. They also made reference to the victims, saying that many did not know the suspect, which would lead us to believe that at least some did.
The suspect was driving a vehicle that resembled a police car, likely confusing victims before they were gunned down.
This incident is the deadliest mass shooting in the country’s history.
Original article:
NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA — A 51-year-old man is dead after police say he went on a shooting rampage while disguising himself as a police officer. The ordeal ended when officers shot and killed the suspect.
At least 10 people were shot and killed, and there may be others.
He went so far as to make his vehicle look like a Royal Canadian Mounted Police cruiser.
“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.”
The incident started in the small, rural town of Portapique, with police advising residents to lock their homes and stay in their basements. Police found many dead inside and outside the home of the first scene.
via chicagotribune.com
Police say there were numerous fires started in the same area, as well.
Residents along the suspect’s route were told to stay indoors, and the suspect finally met with police at a gas station. It is unclear what events took place at this location, but it seems that it would be the last location the suspect was alive.
Cpl. Lisa Croteau, a spokeswoman with the provincial force, said police received a call about “a person with firearms” at around 10:30 p.m. Saturday and the investigation “evolved into an active shooting investigation.”
Police noted that the suspect had no affiliation with the RCMP.
Among the dead is a police officer, identified as Const. Heidi Stevenson, a mother of two and a 23-year-old veteran of the force.
The names of the other victims have not been released.
This story is developing.
