Story highlights
Sources: Michael Zehaf-Bibeau was the suspected gunman
Prime Minister Stephen Harper calls the gunman a "terrorist"
Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, a Canadian soldier, was shot and killed
Canadians feared this day, hoping it would never come but also knowing the odds probably weren’t in their favor either.
Not in this era of senseless gun violence, home-grown jihadists, and terrorist organizations with international reach.
On Wednesday, a gunman opened fire in the heart of the Canadian capital, shattering a nation’s sense of security.
Questions galore: What prompted the attack? Is there a link to terrorism?
Whatever the answers, one thing is clear: As one resident put it, “Canada lost its innocence today.”
This is how it unfolded.
Chaos in the nation’s capital