After shots rang out in Canada’s capital city, security officials at the Alberta legislature appeared were on high alert – and an Alberta MLA in Ottawa witnessed part of the incident first-hand.
Late Wednesday morning in Ottawa, a soldier standing guard at the National War Memorial was shot by an unknown gunman – later, shots rang out in the main entrance of the Centre Block on Parliament Hill.
The soldier died after being rushed to hospital, and the gunman shot in the Centre Block also died.
In Alberta, the Solicitor General assured Albertans that there was no information suggesting a threat in the province.
Meanwhile, as the initial incident unfolded in Ottawa, Alberta MLA Ric McIver was also on Parliament Hill, and reportedly nearly came face-to-face with one of the suspects.
The MLA spoke to his wife Christine McIver shortly after the incident.
Just hrd from @RicMcIver. He is okay as gunman ran w/in feet of him as he was leaving meetings on parliament hill. Thoughts R w victim(s)
— Christine McIver (@SweetsBear) October 22, 2014
Christine McIver also spoke to CTV News about her phone call with her husband.
“He said ‘You’re not going to believe this, a shooter has just run into the Parliament buildings, ran within feet of me and with a long gun’,” Christine McIver said, going on to say her husband was safe, but “pretty shaken up”.
CTV News spoke to McIver later in the day – he recounted the incident, saying he heard shots from the war memorial.
“We saw the gunman, with a long-barreled rifle running to the street and going across [the street],” McIver said in a phone interview from Ottawa, he said he tried to find a safe place, but saw a car stop nearby, and said he saw the driver, who was armed, get out of the car.
“It was close enough that just for a second I didn’t know whether I could get away, so I actually had to consider my options,” McIver continued.
“My thoughts and prayers go to the soldier’s family.”
Premier Jim Prentice released a statement Wednesday in response to the incident.
“I would like to offer my sincere thoughts and prayers to the family, friends and comrades of the soldier shot today while standing on guard at the National War Memorial in Ottawa.”
Prentice went on to say officials would “continue to be vigilant. We have robust security that includes armed Sheriffs, security instruments and protocols with the Edmonton Police Service.”
The premier said further details would not be disclosed publicly.
With files from Serena Mah
