Suspected gunman Gabriel Wortman, 51, is dead after a Saturday night shooting spree in Portapique, Nova Scotia, Canada 

A 51-year-old suspected gunman is dead following a shooting spree that left multiple people dead, including a police officer in a rural town in Canada, according to reports. 

Police launched a manhunt for Gabriel Wortman on Saturday night following reports of a man having a firearm around 10.30pm in Portapique.

The situation escalated to an active shooting investigation, with police stating there were multiple victims - not clarifying how many were dead. 

Wortman was described as wearing a police uniform and driving a police car, but officials later said he was spotted behind the wheel of a Chevrolet in Milford - around 50 miles south of where the shootings occurred - on Sunday morning.

Shortly before 12pm local time, police said they had Wortman in custody, as photos showed several armed officers surrounding a car at a gas station.  

At a press conference on Sunday night, police confirmed Wortman's death, along with several other victims from the shooting spree, including Const. Heidi Stevenson a 23-year member of the force.

A second police officer was reportedly shot and injured, and is being treated at the hospital for non life-threatening injuries.   

Wortman was described as wearing a police uniform and driving a police car, but officials later said he was spotted behind the wheel of a Chevrolet in Milford - around 50 miles south of where the shootings occurred - on Sunday morning. Shortly before 12pm local time, police said they had Wortman in custody, as photos showed several armed officers surrounding a car at a gas station

The nature of Wortman's death is not yet clear, as a body was seen being taken away from the gas station where Wortman's car was apprehended

Local news outlet Global News reported they had confirmed Wortman was dead, along with several other victims from the shooting spree including a member of the RCMP. A second police officer was reportedly shot and injured, and is being treated at the hospital

Police have not said how many victims are injured or dead, but DailyMail.com has learned of at least one civilian death

A Gabriel Wortman is listed as a denturist in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, according to the Denturist Society of Nova Scotia website. A suspect photo issued by the RCMP matches video footage of a man being interviewed about dentures by CTV Atlantic in 2014. 

A press conference is scheduled for 5pm.  

Police have not said how many victims are injured or dead, but DailyMail.com has learned of at least one civilian death. 

Local resident Dave Brown was seen putting up a memorial for the community after the shootings, nearby the road where the shootings occurred.  

Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil called the shootings 'one of the most senseless acts of violence' in the province’s history.

He added: 'To the families of the victims and those that are feeling afraid, my heart goes out to you.' 

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressed the shooting on Sunday morning during his daily briefing, saying: 'My heart goes out to everyone affected in what is a terrible situation. 

'I want to thank the police for their hard work and people for cooperating with authorities.'  

A Gabriel Wortman is listed as a denturist in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, according to the Denturist Society of Nova Scotia website. A suspect photo issued by the RCMP matches video footage of a man being interviewed about dentures by CTV Atlantic in 2014

Local resident Dave Brown was seen putting up a memorial for the community after the shootings, nearby the road where the shootings occurred

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) monitor the TransCanada Highway while searching for Gabriel Wortman, who they describe as a shooter of multiple victims, near Fort Lawrence, Nova Scotia, Canada

Tom Taggart, a lawmaker in the municipality of Colchester, said the quiet community has been shaken. 'This is just an absolutely wonderful, peaceful quiet community and the idea that this could happen in our community is unbelievable,' Taggart said by phone from his home in Bass River, near the lockdown area

 On Saturday night, Cpl. Lisa Croteau, public information officer with the RCMP Nova Scotia, said police received a call about 'a person with firearms' around 10.30pm and it later 'evolved into an active shooting investigation.' 

Tom Taggart, a lawmaker in the municipality of Colchester, said the quiet community has been shaken.

'This is just an absolutely wonderful, peaceful quiet community and the idea that this could happen in our community is unbelievable,' Taggart said by phone from his home in Bass River, near the lockdown area.

'People live here because of the peace and quiet and it's just an absolute tragedy,' he said.

Police warned that Wortman may be driving what 'appears to be an RCMP vehicle & may be wearing an RCMP uniform. There's 1 difference between his car and our RCMP vehicles: the car #. The suspect's car is 28B11, behind rear passenger window. If you see 28B11 call 911 immediately.' But later, police said he was driving a Chevrolet sports utility vehicle

Police block the highway in Enfield, Nova Scotia on Sunday

Taggart said he didn't know Wortman well, but spoke to him a few times when he telephoned about municipal issues.

Taggart described knowing Wortman's 'lovely big home' on Portapique Beach Road. 

He said Wortman owned a few other properties in the community and was believed to divide his time between Portapique and his business in Dartmouth.

He described Portapique as 'cottage country,' with about 100 year-round residents and 250 in the summer.

'You just don't even dream that this is going to happen,' he said. 'I can't fathom it.'

Mass shootings are relatively rare in Canada, which has tighter gun control laws than the United States.

In August 2018, a man in the neighboring province of New Brunswick shot dead four people, including two police officers, in an apartment complex.