Volume of guns in murder-suicide case astounds C.B.S mayor

Conception Bay South Mayor Ken McDonald said he was shocked to learn that the shooter in last week's double murder-suicide owned dozens of weapons, including an assault rifle.

Brian Dawe, 43, was found with body armour, an AK-47 assault rifle and a handgun when his body was discovered in a cemetery on the outskirts of St. John's last week, hours after he shot and killed two people.

On Tuesday night, Dawe shot his former girlfriend, Juliane Hibbs, 35, and her boyfriend, 45-year-old Vince Dillon, at Villa Nova Plaza in Conception Bay South.

In an interview Monday, McDonald said the community is still reacting to the violent episode, in which the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary initially urged residents to stay indoors while a dragnet searched for Dawe.

"I think people are somewhat relieved at the final outcome [because] It wasn't [a] drug-related, gang-related-type incident. That would have been scary for the entire community," said McDonald.

"Everybody's saying [there were] three families affected. It's a shame. Our thoughts and prayers should be with them to deal with this. It's going to be a long while to get over it."

McDonald said he was "very surprised" to learn from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary that officers found 45 separate weapons in Dawe's possession. While the AK-47 and the 9mm handgun were found in his car, the rest — which included seven restricted guns, as well as rifles and others — were in his home.

The RNC noted that Dawe was in legal possession of each weapon, although they also confiscated illegally obtained ammunition.

"I can't believe that people can own that amount of weaponry, and you'd have a permit for it, and I think that individual had 45 separate weapons, legally," McDonald said.

"I can go do a course today or the weekend, whenever, and then I can start acquiring guns and build them up and build them up," he said.

"You're not checked on afterwards. You don't have to do a mental assessment or anything. Once you get that licence, you're good to buy weapons, and the bullets to go with [them]."

Meanwhile, funeral services were scheduled Monday for Hibbs, who friends say had ended her relationship with Dawe several years ago.

Friends have told CBC News that Hibbs' family had been worried for her safety while the two were together, and in the wake of the breakup.