| 2020 Nova Scotia attacks | |
|---|---|
| Location | Nova Scotia, Canada |
| Date | 18 - 19 April 2020 22:00 – 11:26 (ADT, UTC-03:00) |
| Target | Relatives, random civilians |
Attack type | Spree shooting, mass shooting, mass murder, shootout, arson[1] |
| Weapons |
|
| Deaths | 23 (including the perpetrator) |
| Injured | 3 |
| Perpetrator | Gabriel Wortman |
| Motive | Unknown |
On April 18 and 19, 2020, 51-year-old Gabriel Wortman committed multiple shootings and set fires at sixteen locations in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia, killing twenty-two people and injuring three others before he was shot and killed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in the community of Enfield.[2][3][4] The attacks are the deadliest shooting rampage in Canadian history, exceeding the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal, where fourteen women were killed.[5]
Police were criticized for not using Alert Ready to warn the public about the unfolding attacks, as well as not responding to reports of Wortman's previous behaviour and acts of violence. An investigation into law enforcement's response to the rampage, including the decision not to use Alert Ready, was launched.[6][7][8][9] A public inquiry into the law enforcement response was declared on July 28, 2020, following escalating criticism of the investigation's lack of transparency.[10]
On May 1, 2020, in the wake of the attacks, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, following through on a 2019 campaign promise,[11] announced an immediate ban on some 1,500 makes and models of "military-grade assault-style" weapons,[12] including two of the five guns used in the attacks.[13] The ban included the Ruger Mini-14, which Wortman obtained illegally within Canada, while the other four guns he used included a stolen pistol from an RCMP officer who he killed and three guns obtained illegally from the United States.[14][15] On December 4, 2020, three people, including Wortman's partner, were charged with supplying him with ammunition later used in the attacks.[16]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Voxwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
CBC10was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
:8was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "22 victims of N.S. rampage include retirees, pregnant health care worker, veteran". CBC News. April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- ^ Gillies, Rob (April 19, 2020). "16 killed in shooting rampage, deadliest in Canadian history". AP News. Archived from the original on April 19, 2020. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- ^ Gorman, Michael (April 20, 2020). "N.S. premier not ready to question if a public alert should have been issued about gunman". CBC News. Archived from the original on April 21, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2020.
- ^ Tasker, John Paul (April 21, 2020). "Questions emerge about RCMP's failure to send emergency alert on gunman's rampage". CBC News. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
- ^ Gatehouse, Jonathon (April 25, 2020). "N.S. gunman's 'advantage': Hours passed before RCMP told public he was disguised as one of them". CBC News. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
- ^ Ankel, Sophia (May 16, 2020). "Evidence mounts that Canada's worst-ever mass shooter was a woman-hater and misogyny fuelled his killing spree that left 22 dead". Business Insider. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
BlairAnnounceInquirywas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Pinkerton, Charlie; Naumetz, Tim (May 1, 2020). "Canada bans 1,500 guns immediately, Trudeau promises a buyback program will follow". iPolitics. Archived from the original on May 6, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
- ^ Tasker, John (May 1, 2020). "Trudeau announces ban on 1,500 types of 'assault-style' firearms – effective immediately". CBC News. Archived from the original on May 1, 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
- ^ "2 types of guns N.S. shooter used in rampage now banned in Canada". Archived from the original on May 7, 2020. Retrieved May 7, 2020.
- ^ "How the N.S. gunman got his weapons and who may have helped him in Maine". CBC News. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
- ^ "New documents detail the guns — all illegally obtained — used by Canada's worst mass murderer". National Post. Retrieved January 6, 2024.
- ^ McMillan, Elizabeth (December 4, 2020). "Common-law spouse among 3 charged with giving N.S. shooter ammunition". CBC News. Retrieved December 4, 2020.