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CANADA | Grandson fears missing grandparents killed in attack

Published:Wednesday | April 22, 2020 | 12:13 AM
This undated photo provided by Justin Zahl shows (from left) his brother Riley, his grandmother Elizabeth Joanne Thomas, cousin Emily O’Neil, his grandfather John Zahl and him. Justin Zahl is awaiting confirmation that his grandparents are dead after their log house burned down during a rampage by a gunman disguised as a police officer in Nova Scotia that began late Saturday.
AP
This undated photo provided by Justin Zahl shows (from left) his brother Riley, his grandmother Elizabeth Joanne Thomas, cousin Emily O’Neil, his grandfather John Zahl and him. Justin Zahl is awaiting confirmation that his grandparents are dead after their log house burned down during a rampage by a gunman disguised as a police officer in Nova Scotia that began late Saturday.

TORONTO (AP):

A young man says his grandparents are missing after their two-storey log cabin was set ablaze during the rampage by a gunman that left at least 18 dead and homes in smoldering ruins in rural communities across Nova Scotia over the weekend.

Justin Zahl said yesterday he finally heard from police after frantic calls for information and seeing images of his grandparents' home in the rural town of Portapique burned to the ground, with their cars in the driveway. He said he was told their bodies are likely in the ruins.

"Most likely bodies in the rubble, but no ID on who yet," the distraught 22-year-old said of the couple, who adopted and raised him and his 19-year-old brother, Riley.

"All I have to do is wait," he said in a post on Facebook showing photos of the destroyed cabin and a frantic request for information.

Police teams were spread out at 16 locations across central and northern Nova Scotia, including the neighbourhood where the 12-hour rampage began late Saturday on Portapique Beach Road, where the suspect, Gabriel Wortman, lived.

Police have warned the death toll would increase as investigators comb through several homes destroyed by fire.

Officials said the suspect, identified as 51-year-old Wortman, also died in the weekend attack. Authorities did not provide a motive for the killings.