TORONTO — Only minutes after bullets started flying in Ottawa on Wednesday, social media lit up with reactions, opinions and speculation.
Police and other first responders across the country used Twitter to show their support for their brethren in Ottawa.
Using hashtags like #prayforottawa and #ripnathancirillo, people from all walks of life — and from all over the world — shared condolences for the victim’s family and offered best wishes to the people of the nation’s capital.
Among those taking to Twitter were a few Canadian celebrities.
Kevin Zegers, the Ontario-born actor currently starring in Gracepoint, was succinct.
He tweeted: “We live well. That’s the best way to combat this bulls***. #CANADA”
Zegers, whose cousin Justin Veldman serves in the Canadian Forces, appeared to be following developments as they unfolded.
Donal Logue, Canadian star of the new series Gotham, also used Twitter to show his support.
Comic Tom Green, who was born near Ottawa and grew up in the city, struck a serious tone with his tweet.
Another famous native of the nation’s capital, actress Sandra Oh, tweeted words of encouragement.
Ontario-born Mike Fisher, a former Ottawa Senators player and husband of country star Carrie Underwood, tweeted:
B.C.-born actor Shawn Ashmore retweeted George Stroumboulopoulos, who posted a photo of Cirillo with the word “tragic.”
Celebrities with no obvious ties to Canada also went on Twitter. Among them was actress Mia Farrow:
Supermodel Chrissy Teigen, wife of singer John Legend, used the events in Canada to take a shot at U.S. gun culture — which didn’t go over so well on social media. Criticized for being insensitive and for politicizing a tragedy, Teigen refused to back down.
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