Photo provided by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on April 19, 2020 shows the shooting suspect's car in Nova Scotia, Canada. (RCMP/Handout via Xinhua)
The gunman was wearing a police uniform and driving an imitation police cruiser during his rampage. He was shot dead.
OTTAWA, April 20 (Xinhua) -- More than 17 people, including a policewoman, have been killed and several others wounded in a shooting spree in the eastern Canadian province of Nova Scotia on Sunday, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
The gunman, identified as 51-year-old male Gabriel Wortman, was shot dead by officers. His shooting rampage began late Saturday night in Portapique, about 130 km from Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia.
Local broadcaster CBC reported that the gunman was wearing a police uniform and driving an imitation police cruiser during his rampage.
One of the victims was RCMP constable Heidi Stevenson, a 23-year veteran of the force who lost her life while responding to the incident, the Nova Scotia RCMP announced on its Facebook account.
In a statement, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered his condolences, saying, "My heart goes out to everyone affected in what is a terrible situation. I want to thank the police for their hard work and people for cooperating with authorities."
Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil expressed his shock over the incident, calling it "one of the most senseless acts of violence in our province's history." ■
