Supt. Darren Campbell of the Nova Scotia RCMP (Photo: CPAC)
Nova Scotia RCMP say their investigation into this month’s mass shooting is now focusing on the gunman’s actions leading up to the incident, as well as if he had any assistance in preparation.
Supt. Darren Campbell said Tuesday while the gunman will never stand trial, they still have a duty to investigate as if he was.
“We have been focusing on witness interviews, video canvassing, and judicial authorizations that allow us to obtain search warrants and records. This work has enabled us to gain a better picture,” he said.
“We have identified over 435 witnesses to this point and we have interviewed more than half of them. There are many more interviews to come and we expect the witness list to grow. Also, we have obtained authorizations to help us determine the acquisition of equipment and the gunman’s activities and movements.”
RCMP have found the gunman was a collector of RCMP memorabilia and equipment, said Campbell, which included old police vehicles and the authentic police uniform he wore during the incident, but are unclear how he obtained the outfit.
“We do know that surplus police uniforms are available to the public through a variety of means, including surplus stores, auctions and online,” he said.
“How he had the decals produced is an investigative detail that I can’t get into other than to say we’ve made progress in this area.”
Campbell detailed the movements of the gunman on April 18 and 19, which included a brief, nine-minute window where he and an officer were both in the approximate four-kilometre area of Portapique before he left by assumedly by driving through a field.
The gunman then travelled to an industrial area in Debert, where he stayed overnight from 11:10 p.m. to 5:45 a.m. before departing toward Wentworth.
“What he did in that area between those times is of great interest to us,” said Campbell.
“We have conducted a thorough search of the area and we are looking for anyone who may have seen anything suspicious to contact us.”
Campbell also clarified statements he made on Friday, where he mentioned an altercation between the gunman and his girlfriend, who was the first victim and an integral witness, was a catalyst for the events that followed.
“The wording catalyst was used to express that was the first victim in a series of very horrific events,” he said.
“I want to be very clear that violence against women is intolerable, it’s real and it exists. I don’t want to be misunderstood that the witness had any blame in relation to what occurred or transpired on those awful days.”
