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Only one out of “close to 700” individuals interviewed during the ongoing police investigation into Nova Scotia’s mass shootings provided “information that the gunman was actively and recently involved in the importation and trafficking of illegal drugs,” the RCMP said, in a statement intended to clarify previously published information gleaned from unsealed search warrants.
Twenty-two people were killed by a gunman dressed as an RCMP officer, at times driving a replica police cruiser, during a rampage that started in Portapique on April 18 and ended more than 13 hours later in Enfield, N.S.
The redacted warrant information unsealed by provincial court Judge Laurel HalfpennyMacQuarrie, came following a multi-media court challenge, including the SaltWire Network.
But the RCMP said some of the information presented to public after the unsealings had been “interpreted as corroborated facts without full context, which is resulting in confusion and speculation. We wish to clarify that information with context and facts,” the statement said.
“Some of the information that was unsealed and released from the ITOs (Informations to Obtain) on July 27, 2020, is from one individual who was interviewed and described the gunman as being involved in the importation and trafficking of illicit drugs and firearms, said the statement, released by Public Information Officer Cpl. Lisa Croteau.
“No other persons out of the close to 700 interviewed, including those closest to the gunman, have provided similar information that proves the gunman was an illegal drug smuggler and/or drug trafficker. Therefore, we cannot corroborate this information.”
The RCMP said the same individual was the only witness who described the gunman as having been involved in other murders and the disposal of bodies prior to April 18, 2020 and that no “credible or actionable information” had been provided to indicate the gunman was involved in any other murders outside of the 22 people he killed on April 18 and 19.
RCMP say a forensic examination of the gunman's properties in Portapique using ground-penetrating radar equipment, did not uncover any evidence to support the theory that the gunman had committed previous murders or the disposal of human remains on his property.
“Since the investigation began, the RCMP has been guided based on a full assessment and understanding of the totality of corroborated information and evidence, so that we can validate and verify it. This has guided the RCMP with respect to the content and detail of information that we have provided to victims’ families, survivors and the public. In an investigation, not every piece of information that police receive is determined to be a corroborated fact or becomes evidence," the statement said.
“As we have repeatedly stated, our investigation is ongoing and the investigative team remains open to all possibilities."
As far as the gunman’s involvement in smuggling, the RCMP said the only information provided by witnesses involved the smuggling and illegal sale of cigarettes and liquor while attending university in New Brunswick in the mid to late ‘80s, "as a means to make money during that period of his life.”
Regarding firearms, the statement said “we can confirm that this took place predominantly in the United States and that one firearm had been illegally obtained in Canada. Any transactions of firearms on the part of the gunman or anyone else remains part of the active investigation. As such, no further details in relation to this can or will be provided at this time.”
The RCMP said his email communications determined the withdrawal of personal funds came from his personal investments and bank accounts.
“The purpose of those conversions and withdrawals was based on the gunman’s belief that his assets were safer in his possession as it related to the current pandemic,” the statement said. “A significant amount of currency has been recovered from the gunman’s burned out property in Portapique, which supports the pre-April 18 withdrawal of funds previously disclosed. A forensic audit of the gunman’s accounts remains underway and no further details can be disclosed until this task has been completed.”