RCMP presser starting any moment now: key issues here: timeline of events, what the Mounties knew and when, what kind of guns shooter was using - and verifying other details which emerged yesterday @TorontoStar

Supt. Darren Campbell, support services officer for RCMP, on now. 22 people killed, 3 injured. The latter number is new. Campbell expresses condolences to all families.

Campbell: multiple specialized units were deployed. Following details put together with benefit of hindsight and further investigation.

Officers responding to call were operating on the go, Campbell notes. Didn’t have benefit of hindsight. And Campbell now splitting events into segments: first “cluster”of incidents was Saturday night in Portapique, second cluster was around Wentworth, third was around Enfield.

et now en francais..

Back to Campbell: “what we’ve learned on April 18 is that assault took place between gunman and someone he knew. She escaped and hid in the woods.”

A victim was injured on Saturday night due to gunshots from gunman, and victim told officers that gunman was driving towards the beach. That victim went to hospital and has survived.

Police units responded and found several people who were deceased + several structures that were “fully engulfed in flames.” In total over seven locations where people found deceased. Many were discovered when officers checked homes.

Perimeters were then established: K9, air support, and more came in, plus emergency negotiators. Specialized units and resources from NB came in, too.

Campbell: “learned of possible suspect, whose house and garage were in flames, as well as two police packaged vehicles as well as third vehicle on potential suspect’s property.”

Suspect had pistol and long-barreled weapons, says Campbell. It was around 6:30 AM that witness emerged and let police know about details re: RCMP car, uniform.

All police services in N.S. were alerted on Sunday morning.RCMP now going over their map of Portapique. 13 victims here, says Campbell. Star reporting has found that Lisa McCully as well as Greg and Jamie Blair, among others, lived in the area.

New map shows 12 hours after initial arrival, second series of 911 calls emerge 60km away. Investigation reveals gunman attacked Hunter Road residence in Wentworth. Two of the victims were known to gunman here.

Then, gunman moved to residence in Glenhom area. He was known to residents.. and residents told 911 operators about his uniform, RCMP car, and gun. The residents did not answer door and gunman left.

After gunman moved south, and encountered “woman” who was out walking and shot her. Then, gunman moved south to Debert. There, gunman pulled over a vehicle and shot the person in the car. He went down Hwy. 4, where he did the same thing — killing another victim.

Second series of events, from call from Hunter Road in Wentworth to last incident involving pull-over, spanned 44 km.

Consts. Morrison and Stevenson were on shift on Sunday. Both were talking on police radios, and arranged to meet. Morrison was waiting for Stevenson - and what appeared to be a marked police vehicle then approached him. Morrison thought it was Stevenson. It was the gunmman...

The gunman shot Const. Morrison and, and Morrison drove to hospital, and alerted dispatchers that he’d been shot. Stevenson was northbound on Hwy. 2; Gunman was southbound on Hwy. 2. They hit head-on, and Stevenson engages. Gunman then “took her life..”

Gunman went south, took Stevenson’s sidearm and magazines. Passerby stopped and was shot by gunman. Gunman sets both cars on fire. Takes passerby’s vehicle: Silver Chevy.

Gunman then went to house known to him; the gunman killed the woman. The gunman then switched out of police clothes, and took woman’s Mazda.

Then gunman goes south, arrived at Big Stop. While he’s at gas pumps, officer stop to fill up, too. Encounter between the two - and the gunman is killed. Keep in mind: gunman not in police uniform at this time, and had new car.

That's a ton of info. there - and NS RCMP notes this. They still would like help sorting this out, and ask those with info. to call tip line at: 902-720-5959.

Now questions from @Reuters re: what triggered this whole rampage - and who is victim who emerged from woods? Girlfriend? RCMP confirms that that victim, who survived, was in a long-term relationship with gunman. She helped police immensely, by all accounts.

RCMP: Not excluding the possibility that there was any "pre-meditated planning."

RCMP is deferring to SiRT on the Onslow Fire Hall incident, where two RCMP officers shot at the hall for, well, no one knows yet - it's in SiRT's hands.

What else are they looking into, comes the question... RCMP says they want to ensure there was no other involvement or knowledge of this "horrific series of events." RCMP said earlier no one directly aided gunman on Saturday night/Sunday morning, but in the lead-up, it's possible

Just a note: the scope of this investigation is just immense: 22 victims, 16 crime scenes spanning nearly 100 km and it took place over 12 hours. It will take a while to get it all completely sorted..

Campbell says he's assuming that suspect moved beyond initial perimeter via driving through a field in Portapique. Police had set up perimeter around "only way out," Orchard Beach Drive, but he may have evaded them through field..

Question: did killer have access to scanners/cop radio? Suspect did not, said RMCP. But calls into question the terrible encounter between gunman and Const. Morrison., who thought gunman was Stevenson. Campbell notes NS police forces have encrypted radio.

Noting again: Campbell says gunman came up as initial suspect, police knew he had access to police lookalike vehicles.

@dougquan will be writing a quick hit on the most important developments coming out of today's presser.