The public inquiry into the Nova Scotia mass shooting is detailing the gunman’s replica RCMP car.
The proceedings on Monday are focused on the police gear the killer acquired prior to the April 2020 tragedy.
Mass Casualty Commission Counsel Roger Burrill says Gabriel Wortman had several cars in his possession, and one of them was created to look like a police cruiser.
“The perpetrator had four Ford Tauruses – white Ford Tauruses. Three 2013 white Ford Tauruses were decommissioned vehicles,” Burrill says. “One 2017 was decommissioned, but outfitted as a fully marked RCMP vehicle.”
The vehicle also had a black push bar, flashing lights, and a siren.
A witness also testified at the public inquiry on Monday that he knew the gunman had created a mock RCMP vehicle.
Photo of replica RCMP cruiser taken from David McGrath’s cell on April 24 ,2020. (SOURCE: Mass Casualty Commission)
Max Liberatore works at the federal surplus warehouse GC Surplus in Dartmouth where the shooter bought the four decommissioned police cars.
Liberatore says he knew Wortman through his work there. He was told the cruiser was to honour three New Brunswick officers who were killed by a gunman in 2014.
“When I asked him why he was buying the cars because he was a denturist and made money I would assume he would drive something a little better,” Liberatore says. “He actually told me that … he was building the RCMP car for parades for the fallen cops of New Brunswick. He was going to put their names on it.”
Liberatore also says he never gave any decals to the gunman nor did he ever receive services from the perpetrator in exchange for items.
He added all retired police cars are stripped of their vinyl signs and equipment before they’re auctioned off.
Replica police car. (SOURCE: Mass Casualty Commission)
He also testified both he and his father received dental work from Wortman. Liberatore says he handed over his health card for his coverage in September 2019, while he was later told his father was not required to.
The gunman took the lives of 22 people on April 18th and 19th, 2020 while disguised as a police officer.
The inquiry is taking place at the Prince George Hotel in Halifax on Monday.
