Almost a week after a gunman began a rampage through the province, police are giving more information about what exactly happened. The Nova Scotia shooting timeline has been revealed by the RCMP and it's heartbreaking. The police force is also asking the public to call in with any information they have about the multiple incidents. This article contains graphic content that might not be suitable for some readers. This article includes details of a mass shooting. On April 24, during a press conference, Nova Scotia RCMP gave a detailed update on the timeline of events that happened during the shooting rampage that spanned two days. "To call this a tragedy would be an understatement," said Supt. Darren Campbell. There were three clusters of incidents during the shooting. On April 18, before the first 911 call was made, there was an assault by the gunman and a female known to him in Portapique. That victim was in a relationship with the shooter and managed to escape him and hide in the woods overnight. Then there was a 911 call for a shooting. At 10:26 p.m., officers arrived in the area and found a male leaving the area with a gunshot wound. He was shot while driving in his car by a vehicle that passed him by and has survived. The victim described the car as a police-like vehicle. Supt. Campbell noted that there is only one way in and out of the community. When police arrived, several people were found lying in the roadway in Portapique and there were structures engulfed in flames. Victims were found in seven locations that were searched. The gunman's home and garages were also on fire. He was in possession of a pistol and long-barreled weapons and owned several police-like vehicles. Then, at 6:30 a.m. on April 19, the first female victim emerged from hiding and confirmed details about the gunman. She noted that he had a fully marked and equipped RCMP vehicle and uniform. After that, a bulletin was put out to all police forces in Nova Scotia about the suspect. Supt. Campbell said that 13 people were found dead in the Portapique area. More than 12 hours after the RCMP's initial arrival in Portapique, the second series of 911 calls started to be received in an area more than 60 kilometres away. At another location, two men and one woman were killed by the gunman and RCMP believe that at least two of them knew the gunman.* Then at a nearby residence, he knocked on the door and woke up the people inside who he knew. He was then identified by the people to the 911 call taker and said he had a police vehicle and a long-barrel weapon. However, they didn't answer the door and the shooter left. Then he went to Wentworth and encountered a woman who was out walking. She was shot and killed. At 9:35 a.m. on April 19, there was a 911 call for that victim. The shooter then encountered two more vehicles; he pulled one over and shot the person. There were 44 kilometres between the first 911 call and the shootings of the people in the vehicles. Then Const. Chad Morrison and Const. Heidi Stevenson were communicating with each other and had agreed to meet. Const. Morrison was waiting for Const. Stevenson when a police vehicle approached him. He thought she had arrived but it was actually the gunman. The shooter pulled up beside Const. Morrison and opened fire. The RCMP officer sustained multiple gunshot wounds before driving away from the gunman. Then he notified dispatch and other officers that he'd been shot and was going to get emergency treatment. He has survived. Const. Stevenson was nearby and collided head-on with the gunman's vehicle. She engaged in gunfire with him and she was killed. The gunman then took her gun and magazine. A passerby stopped at that scene and was fatally shot. Both Const. Stevenson's and the gunman's vehicles were set on fire and he left the scene in the passerby's vehicle. A short distance away he entered the home of a woman known to him and shot and killed her. Then the gunman removed his police clothing and transferred his weapons into the victim's vehicle. Next, he arrived at the Big Stop in Enfield and tactical resources were also at the station. While the gunman was at the pump there was an encounter and he was shot and killed by police at 11:26 a.m. on April 19. The distance he travelled between where he shot Const. Morrison and the gas station was 23 kilometres. During a press conference on April 24, Supt. Campbell confirmed that one of the weapons was traced back to Canada but the others are believed to be from the U.S. He also mentioned that the initial assault might have been a catalyst but RCMP is not excluding that this was all premeditated. The RCMP is still looking for information from the public about the series of events that happened on April 18 and April 19. That includes photos, videos and other material. "No piece of information is too small," said Supt. Campbell. People can call 1-902-720-5959 to give any information they may have. *Editor's note: This story has been updated. If you or anyone you know is struggling with depression or mental health concerns, please reach out to a trusted peer, parent or health care professional. You can also contact a local helpline which is available 24 hours a day to talk. Or click here, for additional resources. If you need immediate assistance please call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest hospital. Support is available.
