President Trump offered condolences Monday after Canada experienced its deadliest mass shooting the day before.
The president and first lady Melania Trump issued a statement sending “their sincere condolences to all Canadians” after 16 people were killed in the province of Nova Scotia.
“The United States and Canada share a special, enduring bond,” the White House statement read. “As friends and neighbors, we will always stand with one another through our most trying times and greatest challenges. The United States strongly condemns these murders, and our prayers are with the victims and their families.”
The gunman, who authorities say also died, was reportedly disguised as an officer and shot people in their homes, the Associated Press reported. Police found several bodies inside and outside one home in the town of Portapique, with other bodies at other locations.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowed the government would move forward with the gun control legislation he promised during last year’s election, The Washington Post reported.
The shooting came as Canadians, like many around the world, are being instructed to stay in their homes to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Canada has recorded 37,656 cases of coronavirus and 1,726 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
The U.S.-Canadian border will remain closed to nonessential travel for another 30 days to prevent the virus from spreading, Trudeau announced Saturday.