National Post (National Edition)
Death toll, questions mount in N.S.
As the heavy toll of those killed in a 13-hour rampage in Nova Scotia rose to 22, the extraordinary timing of the murders amid the pandemic forced the province to tell grieving families and closeknit communities that only five people from each family can attend each funeral.
The RCMP continued to sift through the charred remains of five buildings, including homes, on Tuesday, discovering three more victims killed in a spree that stretched from Saturday night to Sunday noon.
“We have recovered remains from some of the locations of the fires,” the RCMP said.
“There are 23 deceased, including a 17-year-old (and the shooter). All other victims are adults, both men and women.” The teenager was identified by family as Emily Tuck, who died with her parents, Jolene Oliver and Aaron (Friar) Tuck, in their Portapique home, near the start of the murder spree.
Also among the victims was Const. Heidi Stevenson, a 23-year veteran of the RCMP who leaves behind her children, Connor, 13, and Ava, 11, and husband Dean. Typically, police officers killed in the line of duty receive huge funeral services with representatives of law enforcement agencies around the country and abroad.
Not now, not yet.
Nova Scotia chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang outlined the reality of mourning in the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
“Under the public health rules funerals or memorial services can happen for immediate family,” said Strang. “They can get together in numbers of five or less, as well, the rules around social distancing need to be respected.”
Funeral directors around the province were told what services they could and could not provide for five mourners of each victim.
“For the rest of us, and for larger extended families,” Strang said, “unfortunately we’re going to have to ask people to remember and to mourn virtually, and we will find a time collectively when we are able to, due to COVID, remember the events of Sunday in a way that can bring us more together physically.”
The RCMP continued their probe into the spree by Gabriel Wortman, a 51-year-old denturist wearing an RCMP uniform and driving a replica of an RCMP cruiser — including whether he acted alone.
“The investigation is detailed and complex. The investigative team is focused on learning more about this very tragic situation, including accurate victim information and whether others may have aided the suspect,” said Corp. Jennifer Clarke, a spokeswoman for Nova Scotia RCMP.
The frightening manhunt ended Sunday, when Wortman was located by RCMP officers at a gas station in Enfield, about 90 kilometres from his Portapique home, where the massacre began. He was shot dead by police.
“Some of the victims were known to Gabriel Wortman and were targeted while others were not known to the suspect,” Clarke said. Police would not provide more information on how Wortman knew the victims. There are indications his rampage has roots in domestic violence.
The RCMP raised the spectre of him having assistance.
In an unusual written list of questions and answers prepared by the force and released to the media Tuesday, the RCMP said: “Q: Is Gabriel Wortman the only suspect in this investigation? A: This is part of our ongoing investigation.”
Police are investigating how much planning went into the murders and why they happened, but did not provide answers, saying only: “We aren’t speculating on Gabriel Wortman’s motives. Trying to answer this question is part of the investigation.”
He did not have a criminal record, the RCMP said, although Global News reported he pleaded guilty to an assault charge in January 2002, and was given a conditional discharge.
Police confirmed the uniform he wore was an authentic RCMP garment but say the car he drove was a replica, described as “a very real lookalike RCMP vehicle.”
Bodies have been recovered in Portapique, Wentworth, Debert, Shubenacadie, Milford and Enfield.
“Our members are working with the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service to identify victims and connect with their families as quickly as possible. I can assure you that as soon as we identify victims, we are notifying their next of kin,” the RCMP said.
Police said the incident started with a firearms call to police at approximately 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, and ended when Wortman was shot dead about noon the next day.
The death of Wortman is being investigated by the province’s Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT), which independently investigates serious incidents arising from police actions in Nova Scotia.
A second incident is also being probed by SIRT.
Two RCMP officers each fired their guns outside the Onslow Belmont firehall, about 25 kilometres east of Portapique, which was designated as an evacuation centre for people living near the Portapique crime scenes.
“The two officers apparently fired their weapons — but they weren’t shooting at each other,” said Pat Curran, interim director of SIRT.
“One of the questions is what were they shooting at.”
The firehall shooting occurred around 10:30 a.m. Sunday, 90 minutes before Wortman was shot 60 kilometres to the south.
“As far as we know, the suspect was not in that area, at least not at that time,” Curran said. No injuries from the firehall incident have been reported. A number of witnesses have already been interviewed by a SIRT investigator.
Both the SIRT probes, and the much larger RCMP probe, will continue for some time.
“Our thoughts are with all of the victims’ families and we are particularly mindful of families who have not yet received confirmation that their loved ones were involved,” Clarke said on behalf of the RCMP.
“This is an unprecedented incident that has resulted in incredible loss and heartbreak for countless families and loved ones. So many lives will be forever touched.”