Wednesday morning in Ottawa, Canada, seemed like the start of any other October morning in the country's capital: Slightly chilly, a light breeze blew through the air and the sun was trying to peek through the clouds.

Rachael Mounce, a tourist, took a photo of the city's Parliament building, posting it with the caption, "good morning from Ottawa!" She was due to go on a tour of the building — but ultimately decided against it.

A photo posted by rachael mounce (@rachiee_m) on Oct 10, 2014 at 6:18am PDT

Another man, Evanem, took a tour of the city's National War Memorial and snapped a photo of the two ceremonial guards standing beside it.

A photo of Ottawa's National War Memorial taken by a tourist the morning of Oct. 22, 2014. Image: kamakazi19982

One of the guards, seen left, above, was a popular attraction — just last Sunday he posed with a smiling woman in the very same spot.

On Sunday, we asked a very handsome guard for a picture with my friend visiting from Cali - RIP Nathan Cirillo pic.twitter.com/q80EZ6nwmo — Megan Underwood (@megunder) October 22, 2014

Then:

Gunfire at the war memorial in downtown #ottawa — Peter Henderson (@Henderburn) October 22, 2014

At 9:52 a.m., Ottawa Police received multiple 911 calls saying someone had been shot at the monument.

See also: Shootings in Canadian Capital Leave Gunman and Soldier Dead

Early eyewitness reports indicated it was a soldier. Numerous passersby, soon joined by first responders, tried to save the victim.

Shooting at the war memorial in Ottawa. pic.twitter.com/1Z0p4Mj5Vw — John Ivison (@IvisonJ) October 22, 2014

The gunman, who Prime Minister Stephen Harper later called a "terrorist," then reportedly climbed into his car and drove across the street to the Parliament building.

Moments later, reporters there reported hearing shots.

Gunfire in pariament — Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) October 22, 2014

Shots fired in centre block. I don't know what's happening — Justin Ling (@Justin_Ling) October 22, 2014

One tweeted that he saw a victim in the hallway, his body slouched on the ground.

The building quickly went into lockdown. Parliament staffers were told to shelter-in-place and "hide themselves in their office immediately," according to an email warning sent by security. "There are currently active shooters in the Parliament Hill vicinity," it read.

Others in the area were evacuated.

Members of Parliament, in session and in the building, tweeted that they heard shots, loud bangs and reported they were safe.

On the fifth floor of centre Block. RCMP guns drawn, machine guns deployed entering mainm doors. #cdnpoli — Gerry Byrne (@Gerry_Byrne) October 22, 2014

is it clear people? shots were outside caucus room — Michelle Rempel (@MichelleRempel) October 22, 2014

Stay in office everyone. Lock doors. Stay low. Chase ensuing outside the offices. — Gerry Byrne (@Gerry_Byrne) October 22, 2014

The shooter — as of Wednesday night it is believed there was just one — ran into the building and encountered police near the Library of Parliament in the Parliament compound's Centre Block, officials said.

Here's a walk through of the #Ottawashooting I made using Google Street view. http://t.co/x4xgqYiQmc — craigdesson (@craigdesson) October 22, 2014

They exchanged an estimated 30 shots.

Shots fired during caucus meeting. at least 30 shots. MPs piled out. I'm safe with 2 colleagues but we're still at risk... — Tony Clement (@TonyclementCPC) October 22, 2014

A Globe and Mail reporter there captured the ensuing shootout on video.

The assailant was soon shot dead.

Craig Scott, an MP from Toronto, says he was felled by the Parliament's Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers, a former "mountie" who engaged the suspect and is now being called a hero.

MPs and Hill staff owe their safety, even lives, to Sergeant at Arms Kevin Vickers who shot attacker just outside the MPs' caucus rooms. — Craig Scott (@CraigScottNDP) October 22, 2014

The shooter was later identified as 32-year-old Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, a recent convert to Islam, according to Reuters. A photo of him surfaced on Twitter. It showed Zehaf-Bibeau clutching a long rifle with a keffiyeh-style scarf wrapped around his face.

BREAKING | This is a photo of Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, gunman in this morning's shootings in Ottawa. #cbcOTT #OTTnews pic.twitter.com/OLSxlYPelj — CBC Ottawa (@CBCOttawa) October 22, 2014

By mid-afternoon, the victim, too, had a name. Cpl. Nathan Frank Cirillo, 24, was a reservist with the Canadian military who worked as a ceremonial guard at the monument. His Instagram photos revealed a young man with a soft spot for rescue dogs and his son, who only just started kindergarden.

A photo posted by Nathan Cirillo (@ncitaly) on Sep 9, 2014 at 10:52am PDT

"Nathan was a really sweet guy and a great dad" a former girlfriend said. "He was obsessed with his son and his dog."

Three others were injured in the attack, and released hours later, Ottawa Hospital said.

Snipers try to enter Langevin Block to get into position where a shooting occurred on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. Image: Matthew Usherwood/QMI Agency/Zuma Press

By Wednesday night, officials were left wondering how a shooter could kill a soldier and then run rampant throughout the country's center of power.

PM’s former dep chief of staff MT @derekvanstone: Where were guards at HofC front door? How did this killer get so close to caucus rooms? — Jason Fekete (@jasonfekete) October 22, 2014

Reports of a second or third shooter kept the city on edge throughout the day, and at 7 p.m., thirty minutes before Prime Minister Harper was scheduled to speak, many Parliament buildings were again put on lockdown.

LOCKDOWN REINSTATED AT 131 Queen, 181 Queen, 155 Queen, 125 Sparks, the Howard Building, 99 Bank and 50 O’Connor. #cbcOTT #OTTnews — CBC Ottawa (@CBCOttawa) October 22, 2014

Speaking to his nation, Harper said, "Tonight we pray for speedy recovery of others injured in these despicable attacks," and the soldier who was "murdered in cold blood."

In the days to come, Harper said, Canadians would learn more about "the terrorist" and any accomplices he may have had. But make no mistake, Harper added, "we will not be intimidated. Canada will never be intimidated."

Wednesdays attacks would only "strengthen our resolve and redouble our efforts" in the fight against terrorism.

"They will have no safe haven," Harper said.

Canadians, according to a popular and normally satirical Canadian Twitter account about statistics, were left "100% united and 100% pissed off."