Kevin Vickers Canada Sergeant
Canadian Parliament Sergeant-of-Arms Kevin Vickers stops gunman who killed soldier Reuters

Canadian MPs and citizens have called Parliament's Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers a "hero" for stopping a suspected gunman after he entered the parliament building in Ottawa.

Vickers, a decorated former Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer, shot dead the armed man, who had killed a soldier guarding the National War Memorial outside the Parliament building.

As authorities continue to search Ottawa for other suspects, MPs and members of the public have taken to Twitter to hail Vickers a hero for saving the lives of so many others.

Julian Fantino, Minister of Veterans Affairs, tweeted: "I am safe & profoundly grateful to Sgt at Arms Kevin Vickers & our security forces for selfless act of keeping us safe"

Craig Scott, MP for Toronto-Danforth, said: "MPs and Hill staff owe their safety, even lives, to Sergeant at Arms Kevin Vickers who shot attacker just outside the MPs' caucus rooms."

MPs and officials were told to barricade themselves in rooms for protection, but Vickers shot and killed the suspected attacker soon after he entered the Parliament building.

Vickers was appointed Sergeant-at-Arms in 2006, after a distinguished 29-year career as a mountie during which he rose to Chief Superintendant and won the 'RCMP Long Service Medal.' He is also a recipient of the Queen's Jubilee Medal.

Justice minister Peter MacKay tweeted: "Thank God for Sgt at Arms Kevin Vickers & our Cdn security forces. True heroes."

Damian Penny, a man from Nova Scotia, tweeted that Vickers would "never pay for a drink again".

Police are still hunting two gunmen, and have warned the public to remain vigilante.

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