Ottawa shooting: Greg Peters hurt, P.E.I. MPs, senator in all day lockdown
Retired Superintendent Greg Peters was on the Hill in his capacity as Usher of the Black Rod to the Senate
A P.E.I. native was among those injured as the lockdown on Parliament Hill sent of hundreds of people scrambling for safety after a soldier was shot at the war memorial Wednesday.
Parliamentarians were under orders to remain in lockdown for hours after the shooting, only being released just after 10:00 p.m. AT.
Retired RCMP Superintendent Greg Peters was in the House of Commons in his capacity as Usher of the Black Rod to the Senate.
His brother Alan Peters lives in Souris West and told CBC News Peters had been injured today, but had not been shot.
He said Peters was injured in what he called the 'getaway' and was taken to hospital where he was treated and released. Peters is now resting at home.
Charlottetown MP Sean Casey and Senator Percy Downe were on Twitter reporting they were fine, and Casey said Cardigan MP Lawrence MacAulay is with him.
CBC News also spoke with Malpeque MP Wayne Easter and to Egmont MP Gail Shea's office, and they reported they were both fine. Shea was in lockdown with other MPs in a caucus meeting. Easter was also locked down.
“The security folks have said they want no movement on the Hill,” said Easter.
“One is shocked that this can happen in our capital city at a memorial for soldiers, so it’s a very sad day.”
Senator Libbe Hubley's office told CBC News she is not in Ottawa.
Both Charlottetown MP Sean Casey and Senator Percy Downe reported on Twitter that they were locked down but OK.
Downe said he was able to see right away how serious the situation was.
“I saw the RCMP and the Ottawa city police pulling out their machine guns from their trunk and putting on their bullet proof vests. And of course like everyone else I heard the news that one of our Canadian forces members has been shot at the war memorial,” he said.
“At times like this you think of the members of the Canadian forces and the police who take on the very serious responsibility of protecting all citizens.”
P.E.I. man in Ottawa for hockey game
Tim O’Flaherty of Savage Harbour, P.E.I. got on a plane Wednesday morning and flew to Ottawa to watch the Toronto Maple Leafs play the Ottawa Senators.
That’s when it got real for me. I was definitely nervous at that point.- Tim O'Flaherty
He planned to spend the afternoon at the Rideau Centre and the War Museum. He was in the Rideau Centre when he heard the shots, and said he didn’t initially realize what was going on.
“Ottawa, not being Charlottetown by any means, you hear some banging and sirens, you don’t really pay much attention to it,” said O’Flaherty.
“Whenever you hear the sirens right after that you sort of start thinking what’s going on, but when people are walking around you not paying attention it kind of calms you down.”
He was still heading in the direction of the War Museum when his phone went off.
“When I received the text message from my friend saying, ‘Where are you? Somebody was shot.’ That’s when it got real for me. I was definitely nervous at that point,” he said.
He began to walk quickly away from Parliament Hill. When he felt like he was a good distance away he stopped at a coffee shop.
“I figured it was a good spot to sit, have a cup of coffee, and wait for things to settle down,” he said.
“After being here about 20 minutes the manager ... made the decision to lock down.”
When O’Flaherty spoke to CBC News, at about 12:45 ET, he was still locked down in the shop. He said he could see traffic on the street, but it was diminishing.
“It’s a humbling experience that you’re so close to such a terrible situation,” he said.