Police in Nova Scotia say a man is in custody after the force issued an emergency alert warning people in the Colchester County community of Bible Hill to shelter in place as a “dangerous man with a firearm” was allegedly seen on foot in the area.
People living in the areas of Colchester, Cumberland, East Hants, and Pictou County were told by RCMP to seek immediate shelter and lock their doors and windows at around 9 a.m. Friday.
In a social media post, RCMP in Nova Scotia advised residents to shelter-in-place as officers respond in the area of Hillcrest Ave.
“Alert imminent. The streets surrounding Hillcrest Ave. are closed to allow officers to do their work. Please avoid,” the statement from police read.
Colchester County District RCMP is in the Hillcrest Ave. area of #BibleHill, responding to a report of a man with a firearm. Shelter-in-place. Alert imminent. The streets surrounding Hillcrest Ave. are closed to allow officers to do their work. Please avoid. pic.twitter.com/PJYGcjXMQV
— RCMP Nova Scotia (@RCMPNS) April 19, 2024
At around 9:20 a.m., the RCMP issued a follow-up post to social media saying the suspect was now in custody.
The incident comes on the four-year anniversary of the deadliest mass shooting in Canadian history.
On April 18-19, 2020, a gunman — at times disguised as an RCMP officer — murdered 22 people in Nova Scotia during a rampage that began in the Colchester County community of Portapique. The victims included a pregnant woman and an RCMP officer.