In less than 24 hours, an attempt to repossess a truck transforms a quiet, rural Alberta community into the site of the bloodiest RCMP massacre in more than a century. Here's what happened:

• March 2, 3:20 p.m.

  Serving a court-ordered seizure of property on behalf of an Edmonton car dealership, a pair of bailiffs arrives at Jim Roszko's farm just outside Mayerthorpe, Alberta. But instead of collecting the white 2005 Ford pickup truck that Roszko reportedly had stopped paying for because it was delivered with a dented bumper, they were chased away by two "Rottweiler-type" dogs.

  They phone police to say a man they believe to be Roszko had set the dogs on them before speeding off the property in a white pickup.

• March 2, later that afternoon

  Constable Peter Schiemann and Corporal James Martin arrive to accompany the bailiffs back onto the property under a civil court order. Inspecting Roszko's large metal Quonset hut, they discover partially dismantled trucks and an assortment of marijuana plants in various stages of maturity. The police file a search warrant. Roszko doesn't appear to be there.

• March 2, 6:30 p.m.

  With no sign of Roszko returning, the bailiffs leave the property.

• March 2, later that night

  Members of the Edmonton Police-RCMP Green Team arrive to investigate the apparent marijuana-grow operation.

  At one point, a neighbour sees Roszko speeding down a road but police don't find him.

• March 3, 4:30 a.m.

  The Green Team leaves the property, leaving two local RCMP officers to guard the property until additional members of the Edmonton RCMP can arrive to search for stolen property. According to reports, Roszko returns overnight, undetected.

• March 3, 9:15 a.m.

  Following the arrival of two more local Mounties, auto-theft investigators arriving at the farm hear gunshots ringing out from inside the Quonset.

  Roszko is seen running from the shed, firing at the investigators with a high-powered semi-automatic rifle.

  When the auto-theft investigators returned fire, Roszko flees back inside. The officers retreat and call for backup. None of them respond to their radios.

• March 3, later that morning

  Edmonton and Calgary city police arrive to establish a secure perimeter around the property, including closing off airspace above the farm.

• March 3, 12:30 p.m.

  RCMP request assistance. Two armoured personnel carriers, an ambulance and approximately 20 military personnel are dispatched from CFB Edmonton. The military is later told their assistance is unnecessary.

• March 3, 2:00 p.m.

  RCMP backup makes its presence known in the form of heavily armed, camouflaged tactical teams with helicopter support.

• March 3, 2:20 p.m.

  Entering the Quonset hut, officers discover the lifeless bodies of Constables Gordon, Johnston, Myrol and Schiemann as well as Jim Roszko.