Latest news with #Wortman
Edmonton Journal
05-08-2025
- Edmonton Journal
What we know about alleged Ontario cottage country killer and why police said threat has passed
Article content 'Was the gun left there, so they're not worried about him having a gun? Do they know he had only one gun? But that doesn't mean he couldn't get more guns. Doesn't mean he doesn't have a knife or an axe. I just find the whole thing bizarre,' the source said, adding that the incident, on the surface, has eerie echoes of Gabriel Wortman, the serial killer behind a devastating gun rampage in Portapique, N.S., in 2020, Canada's deadliest mass killing. Wortman, who posed as an RCMP officer with a uniform and mocked up cruiser, killed 22 people; 13 were shot, and nine died in house fires. Article content In the Wortman case, police 'kept finding more and more bodies, and people were hearing gunshots in neighbour's houses,' the source said. Gray, the suspect in the Bracebridge homicides, 'has just gone quiet since this occurred,' the source said. Article content 'It's not like Portapique. But it's still weird. I'd be really interested to know what their thinking was when the dust settles on this.' Article content Article content In a statement to National Post, an OPP spokesperson said the shelter in place order was initiated as a precaution while officers searched the area. Article content 'It was lifted when the suspect was not found to be in the area,' Sgt. Joe Brisebois, of the OPP's Central Region headquarters, wrote. 'We never believed there were any threat to public safety since the incident was between individuals that were known to each other.' Article content The OPP 'recognizes that major police operations can be concerning for those who live, work or travel in the area,' he said. 'We understand the importance of keeping the public informed about police activity in their communities.' Article content Emergency alerts related to police are reserved for situations involving 'an ongoing, urgent and significant threat to life that is neither isolated nor contained,' Brisebois said. Article content 'Although the operation was active, it remained isolated and confined to a specific area under police control. As such, it did not meet the criteria for a broadcast intrusive emergency alert,' he said. Article content Article content 'While we were not authorized to issue a broadcast alert, the OPP shared timely updates with the public through social media and media releases,' Brisebois added. Article content As of Tuesday afternoon, Gray remained 'outstanding,' he said, and the search was continuing. 'We ask that anyone with information about this incident or his whereabouts to contact police or Crime Stoppers.' Article content On his Facebook page, last updated in April 2019, Gray described himself as a mechanic at Bracebridge Yamaha, but he hasn't worked there since 2017. 'It was before my time and actually the guys here never worked with him, either. The new owners never met him,' said service advisor Greg Williams. Article content 'I was a bit shocked, to have that up here. Don't usually get that stuff up here,' he said. Article content It could take weeks to identify the two bodies found inside the house gutted by fire. 'Until the fire cooled off and they could get in there, they wouldn't even know that there were more bodies inside,' the law enforcement source said.
CBC
24-07-2025
- CBC
Man pleads guilty to crosswalk collision that killed Dalhousie student in Halifax
A 32-year-old man has pleaded guilty to three criminal charges in relation to a collision in central Halifax in January that claimed the life of a 21-year-old woman. Deepak Sharma entered the guilty pleas Thursday afternoon in Nova Scotia provincial court in Halifax. They include two charges of leaving the scene of an accident and one of criminal negligence causing death. He had been facing a manslaughter charge, but instead agreed to plead guilty to the lesser charges. The collision that killed Alexandria Wortman as she was using a marked crosswalk on Jubilee Road was one of three that Sharma was involved in that night. Crown prosecutor William Mathers said police had built a strong case against Sharma thanks to residents of the busy street who "stepped up." "Many, many people within that neighbourhood came forward, provided statements, provided videos from their doorbell cameras, their security systems, etc.," he said. "This really was a case where the community came forward and ultimately that's how crimes are solved." The Crown read an agreed statement of facts into the record. It showed that on the evening of Jan. 27, Sharma's black Honda Civic struck a vehicle on Jubilee Road. While Sharma initially got out of his vehicle to consult with the other driver, he then took off at about 126 km/h on a street with a speed limit of 50 km/h. It was while he was speeding down Jubilee that Sharma struck Wortman, who was in a marked crosswalk. She ended up on the hood of his car as he sped away. He only stopped after a third collision at the corner of Jubilee and Robie streets. Wortman, a student at Dalhousie University, suffered multiple blunt force trauma injuries. People on the scene tried to resuscitate Wortman, but she was pronounced dead in hospital. According to the statement, Sharma threatened to kill people who were trying to help Wortman. He was arrested at the scene of that third collision. Members of Wortman's family sobbed as the details of her death were read into the record. He is to be sentenced on Sept. 22 and Mathers said he expects many of those family members will want to deliver victim impact statements at that time. "One of the primary concerns motivating the Crown here was to resolve this matter quickly, and doing so to give closure as quickly as possible to the Wortman family and hopefully allow them to start grieving and try and find some semblance of peace," Mathers said. "Hopefully, the speed with which we arrived at this resolution will assist in that." Mathers said there will be a joint sentencing recommendation, but he wouldn't say what that is likely to be. However, he did say sentences for offences like this tend to be fairly low, in the range of four to five years.
Global News
24-07-2025
- Global News
Halifax driver fled hit-and-run at 126 km/h when he fatally struck pedestrian
A Halifax driver was fleeing a hit-and-run and had sped up to 126 km/h when he drove through a four-way stop and struck a pedestrian — continuing to drive with the victim caught in his windshield — until he hit a parked car, according to an agreed statement of facts. On Thursday, Deepak Sharma, 32, pleaded guilty to criminal negligence causing death and two counts of fleeing the scene following a collision. A manslaughter charge was dropped as part of Sharma's plea deal. The Jan. 27 crash claimed the life of 21-year-old Alexandria Wortman, a Dalhousie University student who was crossing at a marked crosswalk at the time. Wortman's family and friends burst into tears as details surrounding her death were read aloud in court. According to the agreed facts, Sharma's Honda Civic had rear-ended another car on Jubilee Road at around 5:45 p.m. Both drivers exited their vehicles, but when the other driver went to retrieve his insurance information, Sharma fled. Story continues below advertisement His Civic struck the other driver in the hip. The man was able to call police and take a photo of Sharma's car. The document detailed how Sharma's car then sped down Jubilee and narrowly avoided hitting an oncoming vehicle — ultimately striking Wortman as she crossed on Vernon Street. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The moment of impact was captured on a doorbell camera. Crown Attorney William Mathers told reporters outside the courtroom that footage submitted by nearby residents played a big role in the case. 'Obviously, the speed speaks for itself. That's a 50 km/h zone and he accelerated from zero to 126 km/h and struck Ms. Wortman with his motor vehicle when he was going that fast down Jubilee,' said Mathers. The victim suffered multiple blunt force traumas, which were detailed in the document. 'Mr. Sharma continued down Jubilee Road at a high rate of speed, with Ms. Wortman wedged into his (windshield),' the statement went on to say. 'Mr. Sharma continued erratically on Jubilee Road — swerving back and forth and passing vehicles in single lane traffic. Mr. Sharma ultimately attempted to swerve around a car attempting to park and, in doing so, collided with a parked car near the intersection of Jubilee Road and Robie Street.' Story continues below advertisement At this point, bystanders tried to help him and Wortman. But according to the agreed statement of facts, Sharma screamed at the people, threatened to kill one and charged at someone. He was also combative with the two police officers who arrived 'almost immediately' and 'found Mr. Sharma yelling and doing pushups.' He was described as resisting arrest, as well as being disoriented, when police caught up with him. The document concluded by noting Sharma has a history of violations under the Motor Vehicle Act and has two speeding tickets in New Brunswick from 2018. Sharma remains under house arrest and will be back in court on Sept. 22 for sentencing. 'Big heart and passion for others' Wortman, who was originally from New Brunswick, was in her final year at Dalhousie University and would have received her Bachelor of Arts degree this past spring. Alexandria Wortman was struck and killed at a Halifax crosswalk on Jan. 27, 2025. She was remembered for her big heart, and for being a fierce advocate for human rights. Cobb's Funeral Home 'Alex was known for her big heart and passion for others,' her obituary read. Story continues below advertisement 'She abhorred social injustice or inequity and passionately supported and defended any marginalized, under-privileged or at-risk group or individual. She would fiercely advocate for human rights, diversity, and inclusion at any opportunity.' — with a file from Mitchell Bailey
CTV News
24-07-2025
- CTV News
Man pleads guilty to negligence causing death in fatal Halifax collision
Deepak Sharma was speeding down a 50 km/h road at 126 km/h in Halifax when he struck 21-year-old student Alexandria Wortman as she walked in a marked crossing. Instead of stopping, Sharma kept driving with Wortman wedged to his windshield, only coming to a halt when he hit a parked car in an intersection. Wortman went to hospital and later died from her injuries. These were the agreed statement of facts read out in court on Thursday. Sharma pleaded guilty to charges of negligence causing death and fleeing the scene of an accident. Police responded to a collision at the corner of Robie Street and Veterans Memorial Lane around 5:47 p.m. on Jan. 27. According to the statement of facts, Sharma was driving a black Honda Civic that evening when he rear-ended another vehicle on Jubilee Road. Both drivers got out of their vehicles, but Sharma hopped back behind the wheel and fled the scene without giving his name or insurance. Jubilee Road Vernon Street Signs for Jubilee Road and Vernon Street in Halifax, N.S., are pictured. (CTV Atlantic / Callum Smith) The facts say Sharma hit the other driver in the hip with his Civic as he took off. The driver managed to photograph the Civic and called 911. Sharma nearly hit another oncoming vehicle and a truck as he hit a speed of 126 km/h around Vernon Street, according to the facts. That's when he hit Wortman, who was walking across Jubilee Road at a marked four-way stop. The facts say Wortman, a Dalhousie University student, suffered multiple blunt force traumas due to the collision, including a fracture of the cervical spine, multiple contusions of the lungs bilaterally, lacerations of internal organs and a right temporoparietal fracture of the skull. According to the facts, Sharma continued driving and hit a parked car at the Jubilee Road and Robie Street intersection, at which point Wortman fell from the windshield. People tried to help Sharma and Wortman at the scene, the facts say, but Sharma screamed, 'I'll kill you.' He also charged at one of the people. When police arrived at the scene, they found Sharma doing push-ups and yelling. He then pushed an officer away and ran towards the Veterans Memorial Building before police arrested him. The facts say Sharma has a history of violations under the Motor Vehicle Act and he also had two speeding tickets in New Brunswick from 2018. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Toronto Sun
16-06-2025
- Toronto Sun
FULL COMMENT PODCAST: What cops ‘covered up' about the Nova Scotia massacre
Investigative journalist Paul Palango joins Brian Lilley to discuss his new book, Anatomy of a Cover-Up. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Chief Supt. Chris Leather, left, and RCMP commanding officer Lee Bergman deliver a news conference concerning the deadly shooting rampage near Portapique, N.S., at RCMP headquarters in Dartmouth, N.S., in 2020. Photo by TIM KROCHAK/AFP There are many lingering questions about the two-day killing spree by Gabriel Wortman that killed 22 people in Nova Scotia in 2020, even after a joint federal/provincial commission wrapped up its inquiry. Investigative journalist Paul Palango joins Brian Lilley to discuss why he thinks all signs point to the RCMP covering up that Wortman was working undercover for them before his rampage, as he alleges in his new book, Anatomy of a Cover-Up. He suggests it's why police did nothing about reports that Wortman had illegal guns, and why the story of Wortman's eventual killing by cop, and the account of his girlfriend, don't line up with the evidence. If he's right, then Canadians have been fed a lot of misinformation by officials — and we deserve the truth. (Recorded June 12, 2025.) Read More This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto & GTA Music Canada Canada
