Cpl. Nathan Cirillo's killer approached from behind, fired twice

Cpl. Nathan Cirillonever saw the gunman approach the National War Memorial before he was shot at twice, says Canada's top Mountie.

RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulsonreleased details of Wednesday's shooting in Ottawa, including that the shooter ran towardthe Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from the west side, while Cirillo and fellow reservistBrandon Stevenson faced south.

Paulson said the shooter was at an angle where Cirillo would not have been able to see him, and fired twice at Cirillo. He also fired once at Stevenson, but missed.

Ron Foxcroft, the honorary colonel of theArgylland Sutherland Highlanders of Canada regiment, saidBrandon Stevenson briefly chased the shooter before returning to the war memorial to try to revive his wounded friend. Foxcroft said he showed "tremendous bravery" in pursuing the shooter, later identified asMichaelZehaf-Bibeau.

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"The only thing I know is he tried to go after the shooter. Thats all I know, and Ive been told that by several people, Foxcroft said.

I think he just went a few yards, but the shooter had such a head start on him.

Cirillo's cousin, EphraimCirillo, told CBC News in Hamilton the shooter approached the pair from behindand shot Cirillo in the back. Hesaid he had spoken withStevenson, a friend he went to Cardinal Newman High School with in Hamilton, on Wednesday.

Neither Stevenson nor Cirillo were armed when the attack took place. The rifles they carried as honourguards were not loaded.

Stevenson returned to Cirillo'sside and tried, along with several bystanders, to revive the wounded reservist, Foxcroft said. Cirillo was transported to hospital where he died of his wounds.

The pair were both colleagues and friends, Foxcroft said. Several photos posted on a Facebook memorial page devoted to Cirillo show the two together, either in military clothing or outpartying.

"They were very close. Obviously, [Stevenson]is in a state that wed all be if we just lost our best friend," Foxcroft said, adding that the reservist is already getting grief counselling.

"We have people down there with him in Ottawa and were arranging to get him back to Hamilton."

Sisters overcome with grief

Outside the armoury, Hamilton Mayor Bob Bratinasaid the Argylls sent 68 soldiers to Afghanistan and they all came back, only to lose one on home soil while serving as an honourguard.He said he visitedwith the family Wednesday night andspoke with Cirillo'stwo older sisters.

"They were griefstricken to the point where we weren't able to converse at too great a length," Bratinasaid, adding thatCirillo'skindergarten-age son, Marcus, was wondering why his aunts were crying.