Mountie who killed mass murderer identified

The police officer who shot Nova Scotia's mass murderer dead at an Enfield gas station this past spring can now be identified as Const. Craig Hubley, an RCMP dog handler.

Hubley's name was banned from publication until Friday.

“He's a hard worker, diligent, tactically sound, committed and probably one of the best dog handlers that I know,” a police source who has known Hubley for more than a decade recently told The Chronicle Herald.

Hubley was with another RCMP officer from the emergency response team, who was riding shotgun April 19 with the dog handler. Both men got multiple shots off after Hubley recognized the mass killer, who was exhibiting “the 1,000-yard stare” as he gassed up within a few metres of the Mounties at the Irving Big Stop, said the source.

“He stops to get fuel in his dog truck and he has the wherewithal to be standing there watching his surroundings and he sees the guy,” said the police source.

“They spotted him and their training immediately kicked in and they challenged the guy. And boom, they're heroes. They stopped the man who killed 22 people, including one of their own.”

Before reaching the Irving Big Stop, the Dartmouth denturist had rammed his fake police car into RCMP Const. Heidi Stevenson's patrol car near the intersection of highways 2 and 224 before killing her and taking her firearm and ammunition.

“He had injuries from his collision with Const. Stevenson,” said the police source.

The injuries weren't bad, but they were visible, said the source.

The mass murderer appeared to be “making a threatening move,” when the two officers shot him, said the source. “They were concerned for their safety.”

The province's Serious Incident Response Team has now completed its investigation of the shooting.

It cleared the two officers involved in a report released Thursday, noting the mass killer raised a pistol before they began firing their weapons. "Their actions under these circumstances were lawfully justified and not excessive."

“I'll tell you right now, they did exactly what had to be done and I'm glad they did,” said the police source.

Hubley's observation skills are unique, said the source.

“A lot of people wouldn't have spotted him and he would have slipped away and gone on killing,” the source said of the dog handler's observational skills.

“That alone speaks volumes to the kind of officer he is. He's smart. He's just switched on, to use one of our phrases. He's just squared away. He's got a big police brain.”