Nova Scotia’s mass shooting inquiry will soon focus on killer’s violent past: report

The 162-page interim report contains no findings of fact or recommendations, which will be part of a final report that must by submitted by Nov. 1

CITYnews halifax \ Canadian Press

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HALIFAX — The inquiry investigating the 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia has released an interim report that charts its progress so far and offers insight into what it hopes to accomplish over the next six months.

Having largely completed its initial fact-finding phase, the inquiry has already heard from several witnesses and disclosed more than 50,000 documents, including investigative files, emails, notes from first responders, transcripts of police communications and photographs.

The 162-page interim report contains no findings of fact or recommendations, which will be part of a final report that must by submitted by Nov. 1.

Meanwhile, the federal-provincial inquiry has moved on to explore “how and why” a lone gunman killed 22 people on April 18-19, 2020, while evading police capture for 13 hours.

In the weeks ahead, the inquiry will explore relevant events before and after the rampage in northern and central Nova Scotia.

Among other things, the inquiry is expected to produce summary reports on the killer’s violence towards other people, including his common-law spouse and other family members.

The inquiry will also hear more about the gunman’s financial affairs, and the way the relatives of his victims were notified of their deaths and offered support.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 2, 2022.

The Canadian Press

Nova Scotia’s Mental Health Crisis Line is available 24/7 by calling toll-free 1-888-429-8167. Kids Help Phone counsellors can be reached at 1-800-668-6868.

Call 911 for emergency situations.

Additional mental health and wellness resources can be found here or by calling 211.