N.S. mass shooting survivor dies by suicide after years-long mental health struggle

Clinton Ellison, as shown in this handout photo, died by suicide after struggling with PTSD for years after the mass shooting in 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Handout-Wayne Smith

HALIFAX — A man who found his brother’s body during the 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia has died by suicide after struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder for years.

Clinton Ellison’s suicide in Fredericton on May 19 was confirmed by his stepfather Wayne Smith, who said his stepson was traumatized by the shooting that claimed the lives of 22 people.

“As the years went on, months went on, time went on, it just got worse and worse. It was like the devil in him, the devil came after him just constantly,” Smith said in an interview Monday.

Ellison and his brother Corrie Ellison were in Portapique, N.S., visiting their father on April 18, 2020, when they heard a gunshot and saw flames from one of the homes the gunman had set on fire.

Corrie Ellison went outside to see what was going on and was fatally shot by the gunman. He was the 13th of 22 people who were killed during the 13-hour rampage.

Clinton Ellison went looking for his brother a short time later and found his body by the road. Hearing gunshots and explosive sounds from homes on fire, Clinton Ellison ran into the woods where he hid for several hours until police found him.

“He was traumatized, and he said he’d be traumatized for the rest of his life, which he was,” Smith said.

Smith said Ellison had been living in Halifax with his partner for many years, and had been in mental health treatment in the years before his death. Smith said that despite the treatment Ellison continued to suffer and had become increasingly paranoid.

“Three days before he died, he was uncontrollable. He thought the Hells Angels were after him, thought people were chasing him up the highway,” he said.

Smith said Ellison had also become fearful of the RCMP since the shooting.

“I know the reason he did it in Fredericton is because he was afraid the Mounties would cover it up if it was done down here. That’s how paranoid he was about the RCMP,” he said.

Smith said he’d been a father figure to Corrie and Clinton Ellison since they were children. When reached over the phone Monday, Smith said he had spent the morning going through some of his stepson’s belongings.

“He collected coins. That’s what we’re finding in his stuff today. He was very sentimental about his family, there’s lots of pictures of him and Corrie from when they were little and when I was with them,” he said.

By Lyndsay Armstrong

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2026.

If you or someone you know is in crisis or struggling with mental illness, here are some resources that are available.

Canada Suicide Crisis Helpline (Call or text 988 or visit 988.ca)

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (1-800-463-2338)

Kids Help Phone [phone])

If you need immediate assistance call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.