The Nova Scotia attacks on April 18–19, 2020, killed 22 people, making them the deadliest mass shooting in Canadian history.
Key Facts
- Deaths
- 22 people killed
- Injuries
- 3 people injured
- Locations attacked
- 16 locations in Nova Scotia
- Perpetrator
- Gabriel Wortman, 51, killed by RCMP
- Firearms used
- 5 guns, all acquired illegally
- Policy response
- Ban on ~1,500 assault-style weapons announced May 1, 2020
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Gabriel Wortman, a 51-year-old denturist, had a documented history of violent behaviour that was reportedly brought to police attention but not acted upon. He legally owned property and vehicles styled as RCMP vehicles, which he used to deceive the public during the attacks. All firearms he used were obtained illegally, including one stolen from an RCMP officer and three smuggled from the United States.
On April 18 and 19, 2020, Wortman carried out shootings and set fires across 16 locations in Nova Scotia. He disguised himself in a replica RCMP uniform and drove a mock police cruiser, killing 22 people and injuring three others before being shot and killed by RCMP officers in Enfield. The attacks constitute the deadliest mass shooting in Canadian history.
Police faced widespread criticism for failing to use the Alert Ready emergency notification system during the attacks and for not acting on prior reports about Wortman. A public inquiry was declared on July 28, 2020. On May 1, 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced an immediate ban on approximately 1,500 makes and models of assault-style weapons in partial response to the tragedy.