CANADA - shooter in RCMP vehicle & uniform, 22 killed (plus perp), Portapique, NS, 18 April 2020 #2

[dyannaON]

RCMP searching for suspect in active shooter situation in Portapique, N.S.

Police say Gabriel Wortman, 51, is considered armed and dangerous. He is described as a white man, bald, between 6’2” and 6’3” with green eyes.

RCMP say Wortman may be driving what appears to be an RCMP vehicle and appear to be wearing an RCMP uniform.
According to police, the situation in the small community of Portapique is still ongoing and there are several victims.

Police have not said whether any of the victims have died.

Very few details are being released at this time.

Thread #1

 

[MassGuy]

Police: At least 10 killed in shooting rampage in Canada

ENFIELD, Nova Scotia (AP) — Canadian police said at least 10 people were killed after a 51-year-old man went on a shooting rampage across the northern part of the province of Nova Scotia.

The man was identified as Gabriel Wortman. He was arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in a gas station in Enfield, Nova Scotia, northwest of downtown Halifax. Police later announced that he had died.

“In excess of 10 people have been killed,” RCMP Chief Superintendent Chris Leather said. “We believe it to be one person who is responsible for all the killings and that he alone moved across the northern part of the province and committed what appears to be several homicides.”

Brian Sauvé, President of National Police Federation union, said a police officer was among those killed in a shooting and another was injured.

 

[dotr]

https://lt.gov.ns.ca/news-events/20...nt-governor-nova-scotia-shootings-nova-scotia
''Message from the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia on the Shootings in Nova Scotia

Sunday, April 19, 2020
Mrs. LeBlanc and I are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic and unprecedented events that unfolded last evening and this morning.

It is at such dreadful times as this that we are reminded of the service and sacrifice made by first responders who place themselves in dangerous circumstances in order to protect the public. Tragically, this service is sometimes at the cost of their own lives. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Constable Heidi Stephenson who was killed in the rampage and another member who was injured, are such examples of this sacrifice.

We join all Nova Scotians in offering our thoughts and prayers to the families and loved ones of the victims and those injured in these devastating and senseless attacks.


The Honourable Arthur J. LeBlanc, ONS, QC
Lieutenant Governor''

 

[Unscripted]

Links to recent articles (not an exhaustive list) about the 22 lovely people who were taken:


Portapique

Lisa McCully https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova...ting-appreciated-the-wonder-of-life-1.5539585

Jamie and Greg Blair https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova...cotia-mass-shooting-victims-survive-1.5539384

Emily Tuck (17), Jolene Oliver, Aaron Tuck https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/shooting-victims-portapique-nova-scotia-alberta-1.5538557

Dawn Madsen and Frank Gulenchyn https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/durham-nova-scotia-shooting-victims-1.5539439

Joanne Thomas and John Zahl https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-woman-belived-victim-nova-scotia-shooting-1.5540679

Joy and Peter Bond https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/peter-bond-joy-bond-portapique-shooting-victims-1.5540749

Corrie Ellison https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-p...f-the-lives-lost-in-nova-scotia-mass-shooting


Wentworth

Alanna Jenkins and Sean McLeod https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/mass-killing-sean-mcleod-alanna-jenkins-1.5539712

Tom Bagley https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/tom-bagley-obit-shooting-nova-scotia-1.5539857

Lillian Hyslop https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/lillian-hyslop-ns-shooting-victim-memorial-1.5540368


Debert

Heather O’Brien https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova...von-nurse-nova-scotia-mass-shooting-1.5540039

Kristen Beaton https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/mummy...ng-victim-gives-emotional-interview-1.4905502


Shubenacadie

Gina Marie Goulet https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/gina-goulet-nova-scotia-warmhearted-1.5539791

Joey Webber https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-p...the-lives-lost-in-nova-scotia-mass-shooting-2

Const. Heidi Stevenson https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/heidi-stevenson-portapique-sarah-bass-1.5540724

 

[Inthedetails]

Nova Scotia Shooting: How did killing spree start? New details reveal where it all began

 

[Sillybilly]

Please continue discussion here.

 

[Sillybilly]

RCMP detail killer's path through Nova Scotia

Meredith MacLeod CTVNews.ca Writer
Published Friday, April 24, 2020 10:09AM EDTLast Updated Friday, April 24, 2020 12:42PM EDT


[...]

The shooter's ability to disguise himself as an officer made the police challenge much more difficult.

In 30 years as a police officer, Campbell says he "can't imagine anything more horrific than when you are trying to search for someone who looks like you."

In addressing the concerns of loved ones of victims about the RCMP's use of social media rather than the provincial emergency response system to alert residents about the gunman, Campbell said: "We hear the families of the victims full force. They have every right to ask these questions and they have every right to be angry."

[...]

 

[Sillybilly]

'They were so appreciated and loved'
The victims of last weekend's murder rampage epitomized Nova Scotia's neighbourly, service-minded society. Their loved ones hope that's how they'll be remembered.

By Nadine Yousif April 22, 2020

 

[Peace777]

Unplated doesn't necessarily mean "physically unplated." Could have had fake/decoy plates so as not to stick out like you said.

LE uses term unplated interchangeably with "unregistered" which means not assigned a valid plate.

If he was building this vehicle in secret, it may very well have been unregistered. That would also explain the discrepancy between the police having accounted for all his police-type vehicles while he was obviously still driving this one around... Many Freeman type folks throw homemade cardboard type plates on their vehicles that look legit from a distance

But it doesn't sound like he was keeping the fake cop car a secret, a guy Hudson knew, his gf likely knew and usually in small towns word gets around. Heck there was even a picture of the fake cop car online. That's how the police got the picture of it to release to media. People knew. JMO

 

[drama_farmer]

Someone(s) asked about where he kept the "4th" RCMP lookalike vehicle. This link might shed some light

Nova Scotia gunman attacked girlfriend on night mass shooting began, RCMP say
“Hudson said his neighbour had been purchasing used police vehicles at auctions, referring to one unmarked vehicle that was spotted behind Wortman’s denture clinic in Dartmouth after the killings. It has since been towed away.

“He picked the best one and brought it up here, had it in his garage and (added) decals to look just right,” Hudson said.

“He was very meticulous on everything he did … He also trained himself on electronics, so he’d know how to hook up the lighting and everything like that for the car.”

The vehicle, a late-model Ford Taurus, was kept in a garage at another property that Wortman owned on a neighbouring street, Hudson said.

He said the information the girlfriend provided to police was crucial to stopping the gunman.

“If it wasn’t for (her) giving that information, it would have been a lot worse,” said Hudson. “They wouldn’t have known to be looking for an RCMP car.”

 

[drama_farmer]

I read that the RCMP spokesperson said they did not believe GW had or was using a police scanner. I immediately pictured the walkie-talkie type portables or the in-car models. However, apps like Broadcastify and many others provide radio traffic via a smartphone.
For someone so prepared to act as a fully equipped RCMP officer, it would be surprising to me, IMO, if he didn't avail himself of that technology.
I understand that the most sensitive/tactical info is often encrypted and not decipherable over-the-air, but less sensitive info is shared that could have been provided information about roadblocks, traffic control, command post, etc. IMO

 

[ab01]

Bringing over the presser for those who missed it

 

[Maverick47]

Re: the scene of the murder of Constable Heidi Stevenson near the intersection of Hwy 2 and Hwy 24. I have viewed a video (uploaded by someone on Thread 1) recorded by a couple who come upon the scene when both GW's fake RCMP car and Stevenson's car are on fire - so GW has already left the scene in another victim's car. In that video I see officers climbing over the guard rail and going down a slope, then returning up the slope. Then, in this news article, there is a picture of officers doing a fingertip search of that slope. Did GW possibly discard important evidence down that slope? The Nova Scotia shootings began with an act of domestic abuse — and there were red flags that came before

 

[joshmxpx]

I read that the RCMP spokesperson said they did not believe GW had or was using a police scanner. I immediately pictured the walkie-talkie type portables or the in-car models. However, apps like Broadcastify and many others provide radio traffic via a smartphone.
For someone so prepared to act as a fully equipped RCMP officer, it would be surprising to me, IMO, if he didn't avail himself of that technology.
I understand that the most sensitive/tactical info is often encrypted and not decipherable over-the-air, but less sensitive info is shared that could have been provided information about roadblocks, traffic control, command post, etc. IMO

LE transmissions are either encrypted or not, they don't bounce back and forth for different types of info.

I believe it was mentioned in the PC that radio traffic was encrypted, he only would be able to intercept if he had a stolen radio or similar that could receive the transmissions.

Not sure if that app has access to this specific channel they use. In Ontario we can listen to some scanner traffic/channels but not others ( ie OPP is unencrypted and can be picked up on scanner, but not TPS).

That being said, the Fire or ems radio may have been unencrypted and picked up on a handheld.

JMO

 

[ab01]

Re: the scene of the murder of Constable Heidi Stevenson near the intersection of Hwy 2 and Hwy 24. I have viewed a video (uploaded by someone on Thread 1) recorded by a couple who come upon the scene when both GW's fake RCMP car and Stevenson's car are on fire - so GW has already left the scene in another victim's car. In that video I see officers climbing over the guard rail and going down a slope, then returning up the slope. Then, in this news article, there is a picture of officers doing a fingertip search of that slope. Did GW possibly discard important evidence down that slope? The Nova Scotia shootings began with an act of domestic abuse — and there were red flags that came before

They may be looking for bullets or shell casings jmo

 

[Bravo]

Welcome to WS Maverick47

 

[joshmxpx]

Re: the scene of the murder of Constable Heidi Stevenson near the intersection of Hwy 2 and Hwy 24. I have viewed a video (uploaded by someone on Thread 1) recorded by a couple who come upon the scene when both GW's fake RCMP car and Stevenson's car are on fire - so GW has already left the scene in another victim's car. In that video I see officers climbing over the guard rail and going down a slope, then returning up the slope. Then, in this news article, there is a picture of officers doing a fingertip search of that slope. Did GW possibly discard important evidence down that slope? The Nova Scotia shootings began with an act of domestic abuse — and there were red flags that came before

Could have been his handgun/ammo and maybe that's why he had to take coppers? Maybe keys from his vehicle?

Maybe just standard procedure to search, not looking for anything particular

 

[drama_farmer]

After each tragedy, we learn so much about what "works" and what doesn't in "novel" situations like this. Procedures are instituted, changed or enhanced, and those involved in protecting and policing, especially those on the front lines in such a chaotic situation, have an opportunity to review and make suggestions. In the world of aviation, some use the term "tombstone mentality" to refer to actions that are taken after a disaster.

I had a thought about the huge advantage this rampager had over the populace and LE, "hiding" and killing "in plain sight" from what appeared to be a "real" official police car. If only there were some way to alert other officers to be on the lookout so they could avoid or engage this particular vehicle.

Would it be realistic for LE to have a sort of "secret handshake" in the form of something on their vehicles/person that could be used during an event like this? For instance, one example off the top of my head is how members of the Secret Service wear a certain color of lapel pin as the first indication that someone who looks and acts like an agent might not be legit.

I'm thinking about some sort of visual or auditory signal that is ONLY known by the actual police. For this to work, it has to be arranged beforehand, so the "fake" cop isn't in on the secret. It's an idea, and like many of my ideas, it's easy to imagine and brainstorm about, but probably not feasible in the real world. IMO.

 

[Maverick47]

Could have been his handgun/ammo and maybe that's why he had to take coppers? Maybe keys from his vehicle?

Maybe just standard procedure to search, not looking for anything particular

It's just curious that the first officers on the scene (in video where vehicles are burning) chose to go down that slope - as though they had seen something down there - while other officers were clearly sheltering with weapons drawn behind the armoured vehicle where they brought someone to safety.

 

[joshmxpx]

After each tragedy, we learn so much about what "works" and what doesn't in "novel" situations like this. Procedures are instituted, changed or enhanced, and those involved in protecting and policing, especially those on the front lines in such a chaotic situation, have an opportunity to review and make suggestions. In the world of aviation, some use the term "tombstone mentality" to refer to actions that are taken after a disaster.

I had a thought about the huge advantage this rampager had over the populace and LE, "hiding" and killing "in plain sight" from what appeared to be a "real" official police car. If only there were some way to alert other officers to be on the lookout so they could avoid or engage this particular vehicle.

Would it be realistic for LE to have a sort of "secret handshake" in the form of something on their vehicles/person that could be used during an event like this? For instance, one example off the top of my head is how members of the Secret Service wear a certain color of lapel pin as the first indication that someone who looks and acts like an agent might not be legit.

I'm thinking about some sort of visual or auditory signal that is ONLY known by the actual police. For this to work, it has to be arranged beforehand, so the "fake" cop isn't in on the secret. It's an idea, and like many of my ideas, it's easy to imagine and brainstorm about, but probably not feasible in the real world. IMO.

Neat idea, but in reality would be so hard to implement.

In Ontario for example, there are likely over 50 different police forces, and within those there are likely over 500 different specialty units, not to mention different communication protocols, etc.

Even if they changed the "code" weekly, it would take that entire week to distribute the new code and then it would be out of date...

This would work in rural, isolated areas, but not in suburbia/urban zones