Retired RCMP officer Michael Gregory couldn’t wrap his head around the scope of the tragedy.
"It’s very traumatic," the Tatamagouche councillor said Sunday, still trying to process the deaths of RCMP Const. Heidi Stevenson and at least 10 civilians.
Gregory called the 12-hour shooting rampage by Gabriel Wortman, which came to a halt in an Enfield gas station parking lot Sunday morning, a police officer’s worst nightmare.
“When you hear this stuff you think, 'My dear Lord, is this factual, or did someone make a mistake?'" said Gregory, who spent 25 years as an RCMP officer. "It’s a sad day for Colchester County. It’s a sad day for Nova Scotia and all these victims.
“I’ve been out of the force for a long time. Every police officer is a member of our family, this is just the way it is. It’s an officer’s worst nightmare for something like this to happen.”
Assistant Commissioner Lee Bergerman, commanding officer of Nova Scotia RCMP, echoed those sentiments at a news conference Sunday evening.
“Today is a devastating day for Nova Scotia and it will remain etched in the minds of many for years to come," Bergerman said. "It is incomprehensible. Many families are experiencing the loss of a loved one."
Jim Smith, warden of the Municipality of East Hants, issued a statement lamenting Stevenson’s death and honouring her 23 years with the force. Stevenson had been serving at the Enfield detachment.
"Const. Stevenson leaves behind a husband, two children and many family, friends and RCMP colleagues," Smith said. "In honour of her life, the flags at the Lloyd E. Matheson Centre will be lowered.”
Smith also called for the community to support one another while thanking "all of the first responders who were on duty today and who will never forget what took place.
“Finally, we thank the RCMP for apprehending the suspect and the measures they took to keep Nova Scotians safe. Today and always, I along with the council and staff of the Municipality of East Hants stand with our RCMP.”
Another RCMP officer survived being shot while responding to the shooting spree. RCMP did not disclose the identity of the officer, but a source close to the investigation said it was Chad William Morrison, who works out of the RCMP headquarters in Dartmouth.
Morrison managed to get himself medical attention after being shot. He is now recovering in hospital.
East Hants Coun. Cecil Dixon, who’s also a member of the Enfield Volunteer Fire Department, said he’s worked with Morrison over the years and was relieved to find out he’s OK.
“He’s an A-1 person by all means, a good family man, a police officer who likes people," Dixon said.
"He’s a father and husband and it’s nice to hear that he’s going to be OK. But Heidi Stevenson is a mother of two kids who had a husband and there are 10 (civilians) dead and that’s only what they know of now. When you wake up in the morning and you find out that at least people are killed, how do you work with that? "
Morgan MacLellan works at Dominion Chair general store in Bass River, just a few minutes away from where the deadly shooting spree began in Portapique. She said some of the victims belonged to the same family and were regular store customers. She said they were always pleasant and upbeat.
"They would walk in the room and make everyone smile," said MacLellan. “I’m at a loss for words. I’m speechless.
"This stuff happens in the movies and you just can’t believe it would happen here. But it did happen."
Watch Sunday's RCMP news conference
