Ban semi-automatic weapons used in Dawson College attack: coroner
Dawson College shooter was ready to kill his parents to protect his plan
Last Updated: Thursday, September 4, 2008 | 5:36 PM ET
CBC News
Students run from Montreal's Dawson College after gunman Kimveer Gill opened fire inside on Sept. 13, 2006.Students run from Montreal's Dawson College after gunman Kimveer Gill opened fire inside on Sept. 13, 2006. (Ryan Remiorz/Canadian Press)
The man who stormed Montreal's Dawson College in 2006 and opened fire on students planned his attack for months, and was ready to kill his parents if they discovered his plans, a Quebec coroner said in a report on the deadly rampage.
Granting health professionals access to the federal and Quebec gun registries, banning the semi-automatic weapon used by killer Kimveer Gill and improving institutional emergency plans were among the main recommendations made by the coroner's office to avoid similar attacks in the future.
The heavily armed Gill, 25, descended on the downtown college campus on Sept. 13, 2006, and shot several students, killing Anastasia DeSousa and wounding 16 others, before he shot himself in front of two hostages.
Anastasia DeSousa, 18, was killed in the Dawson College shooting.Anastasia DeSousa, 18, was killed in the Dawson College shooting. (Canadian Press)DeSousa was shot 10 times in the front and back, with the first hit likely being mortal. "I believe that she died quite quickly, in the first minute," Quebec coroner Jacques Ramsay said at a Montreal news conference Thursday.
Gill fired 72 times with his semi-automatic rifle and six times with a handgun before he was shot by police, who struck him in the elbow before he shot himself.
His weapon, a short-barrelled Beretta CX4 Storm rifle, was obtained legally and should be banned, Ramsay said.
"It's a lighter rifle, it's easier to manoeuvre, but it is still very precise," and should not be available to civilians, he said.
Australia has already banned semi-automatic weapons, which resulted in lower homicide rates, a trend Canada should definitely take "into consideration," he said.
Ramsay noted the "very brave, very courageous" actions of three police officers who happened to be at the college when Gill started shooting, saying their quick action prevented him from killing more people.
"When we're talking about an active shooter, we must intervene quickly," and that's what the officers did, he said.
Medical professionals need access to gun registry
Montreal police should follow the example of other forces and provide officers access to heavier weapons, such as shotguns or other long-barrelled rifles, either at the district station or in supervisors' cars.
Coroner Jacques Ramsay flips through his report on the Dawson College shooting, released Thursday.Coroner Jacques Ramsay flips through his report on the Dawson College shooting, released Thursday. (Alain Roberge/Canadian Press/La Presse)Montreal's 911 service was severely tested that day, Ramsay added. More than 500 calls were placed to the emergency system in the first 30 minutes following the shooting.
Ramsay is also recommending that health and education professionals have access to the federal and Quebec gun registries to check whether patients or students have weapons, "provided it's done in a way that protects people's privacy," he said.
Killer hid illness when applying for gun permit
Tragedies of this scope cannot be fully prevented, even though it is possible to mitigate them, Ramsay said.
Gill suffered from serious emotional problems in the six years leading to the Dawson shooting.
He battled recurring anxiety and hypersensitivity, and had several bouts of depression. Gill threatened to commit suicide in 2004, which led him to visit a community health clinic, where a psychologist followed his case.
Dawson students watch as Montreal police lock down their school. Dawson students watch as Montreal police lock down their school. (Ian Barrett/Canadian Press)He slept during the day and spent his nights in front of his computer, was isolated and developed a drinking problem that led him to consume between two and seven drinks a day, Ramsay said.
He did not disclose his mental illness when he applied for a gun permit, the coroner said.
Gill was drinking whisky the day of the Dawson shooting, but was not intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.
He spoke to no one of his plans for the attack except on his blog, and it's doubtful anyone could have seen it coming, even his parents, Ramsay said.
In notes recovered from his computer, Gill described how difficult it was to organize his attack without alerting his family. He wrote about his need to constantly hide any incriminating evidence, including his cache of weapons.
Gill indicated in his notes that if his parents found out about his plans, he would have to "eliminate them" against his wishes, the coroner reported.
Gill originally planned to execute his attack on April 20, to commemorate the Columbine massacre in Colorado.
He had photos of four universities and three colleges, including Dawson, on his computer. Ramsay said it’s still a mystery why he picked the downtown CÉGEP.
Gill victim backs call for weapon ban
Dawson College student Catherine Mandilaris, who was shot in the thigh by Gill, said weapons should be off-limits for most people.
"To tell you the truth, I don't think people should have guns," she said after the coroner report's release. "I've seen first-hand what they can do to people. They should be used for hunting, and by police officers, and when they're done... they should be locked up."
Canada needs tougher gun control and it will likely be an election issue, said Bloc Québécois public security critic Serge Ménard.
"We don't need to have any more tragic events to convince us that the number of arms should be generally limited," he said. "These kind of arms can be used for military purposes, but I don't really see any sort of useful use for these arms."
Dawson College director Richard Filion said he's satisfied with the coroner report's findings.
The college reviewed its security measures after the shooting, installed deadbolts on classroom doors, and implemented new communication systems, which have been in place since the 2007 school year, Filion said.
With files from the Canadian Press
