Massacre possibly triggered by assault on girlfriend

HALIFAX—A

murderous rampage in Nova Scotia that left 22 victims dead could have been triggered by a violent domestic assault, the RCMP confirmed during a news conference Friday that provided grim details of killings that spanned 90 kilometres.

“That could have been a catalyst,” RCMP Supt. Darren Campbell said of Gabriel Wortman’s attack Saturday night on a woman with whom he was in a long-term relationship.

Campbell said the woman escaped from the couple’s home in Portapique, N.S., and hid overnight in the woods as the 51-year-old Wortman began shooting neighbours and setting fire to homes. Sources say the woman had been beaten and bound in some way.

“It was a significant incident,” Campbell said of the assault, which was followed by 22 murders in five communities in what police called three distinct “clusters” of violence.

One acquaintance said Wortman had been in domestic conflicts in the past. John Hudson, who had known Wortman for about 18 years, said he was sometimes openly controlling and jealous of his longtime girlfriend.

“I didn’t see him hitting her or anything like that,” Hudson said in an interview. “But I know they fought.”

Hudson recalled a bonfire party about 10 years ago when an argument between the two left the woman locked out of their home in Portapique.

“I was with her, trying to get her stuff out of there,” Hudson said. “People had been drinking ... and it was a crazy night ... and he didn’t want her to leave — but he wouldn’t let her in the house.”

Hudson said at one point, Wortman removed the tires from the woman’s vehicle and threw them into the ditch to prevent her from leaving.

“So, I went to get (her clothes) and what he said to me was: ‘I don’t want anyone in my house. If you come in my house, I’m just telling you, I’ve got guns in here.’”

While police say the assault may have been the spark for the rampage, Campbell also described a chain of events that helped the suspect expand his violence and arson into three “clusters” of attacks in five communities for over 12 hours.

One key element was his use of a replica police vehicle, which police revealed Friday was one of four Ford Taurus vehicles he’d owned.

The car he was driving wasn’t licensed, and police say they didn’t know of its existence as they entered Portapique to find dead and injured citizens.

“I can’t imagine any more horrific a set of circumstances than trying to search for someone that looks like you,” the officer said of the suspect.