Advertisement

Meet the hero in attack on Canadian Parliament

By Mary Papenfuss

OTTAWA, Oct. 22 (UPI) -- A sergeant-at-arms is being showered with kudos for stopping a deadly attack in the Canadian Parliament building from becoming a bloodbath.

Kevin Vickers, 58, formerly of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, killed gunman Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, a Canadian national, as he stormed into the chambers minutes after fatally shooting Cpl. Nathan Cirillo standing guard at a memorial outside, said Ottawa authorities. "Thank God for ... Vickers," tweeted Justice Minister Peter MacKay, who called him a "true hero."

Advertisement

Vickers called his family to tell them: "I'm doing okay," after the first time in his life he was forced to fire on someone.

The Canadian capital is on lockdown as police hunt two other suspects in the attack, and seek a motive.

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper was addressing members of his Conservative Party in the cabinet when Zehaf-Bibeau entered, but Harper was uninjured. A "huge boom" was followed by "rat-a-tat shots," said Treasury Board Minister Tony Clement. Three people were injured in the assault and were taken for treatment to a nearby hospital.

Advertisement

Latest Headlines