WARNING: The following story may contain graphic content and descriptions, which some readers may find disturbing. Discretion is advised.
A B.C. woman is sharing her family’s story after a horrific event in the remote community of Tumbler Ridge, which provincial officials have described as one of the worst mass shootings in B.C. and Canada’s history.
The local RCMP swarmed Tumbler Ridge Secondary School early Tuesday afternoon and ordered the local area to hold in place for hours in reaction to what was later revealed to be a deadly active shooter investigation.
As words of condolences pour in from around the world in the aftermath, many have been left wondering about the identities of the deceased and the conditions of the approximately 25 people whom police reported injured or needing medical attention.
Krysta Hunt says her cousin’s daughter, Maya, is among the injured, but still living, who were airlifted to Vancouver by BC Emergency Health Services.
She tells CityNews she first heard about the incident from her grandparents but couldn’t understand the details amid the commotion.
“And then we got word that she was hit, and one of the shrapnels went in her neck and in her head, and she was airlifted from Tumbler Ridge to [BC] Children’s Hospital. And that’s where she remains now, in critical care,” said Hunt.
“She’s fighting for her life right now.”
Hunt says Maya is just 12 years old.
In an update Wednesday afternoon, Hunt told CityNews that Maya has been placed into a medically-induced coma and is in “extreme, critical condition.”
“She had surgery yesterday to try and repair the brain bleed, and they are waiting to see how she responds to that.”
Hunt says swelling is affecting doctors’ ability to determine the details of her injuries — and her prognosis.
“She has a bullet to the head above her left eye and a bullet wound through her neck. They aren’t sure if the bullet through her neck went all the way through or not, or if it is still internal, but they are leaving it for now, to focus on her head,” she said.
“They weren’t sure that she would make it through the night, so the fact that she has shows so much, just in that progress.”
She says the family was told Maya was trying to lock the library door to protect the other students when she was shot.
Meanwhile, Hunt has also started a fundraiser to benefit her cousin and Maya.
Hunt says much of her family lives in Tumbler Ridge or elsewhere in B.C.
“I’m the only one here in the Lower Mainland, so I’m trying to do whatever I can to help support my cousin while she’s in a time of need.”
In a Facebook post Wednesday afternoon, Maya’s mother, Cia Edmonds, said her daughter “needs a miracle.”
“We were warned that the damage to her brain was too much for her to endure, and she wouldn’t make the night….I can feel her in my heart, can feel her saying it’s going to be OK,” she posted.
“She’s here..for how long we don’t know.”
She says the community is “shattered.”
“My heart bleeds for everyone who is trying to process this horrific string of events. Far too many are grieving already. Please. Wish her luck.”
As of Wednesday morning, Hunt’s GoFundMe page has raised over $40,000.
Renalyn Ceradon Macadangdang’s 15-year-old son, Vince Raven Macadangdang, was at school at the time of the incident.
Renalyn says she was unaware of what was going on until a friend called her to ask if Vince was OK.
She tried calling him and the school, and says she was unable to get a hold of either. She then drove to the school.
Renalyn says the children were eventually evacuated from the school to a nearby community centre.
When she was finally able to reunite with her son, she says, “I hugged him tightly.”
Vince is unable to share much about what happened.
“I am kind of nervous right now. It is heartbreaking that this happened to me, I don’t know what to say. It’s just traumatizing,” he said.
“I feel relief that I’m still alive.”
When asked if he knows any of the victims, he said, “No, nothing that I know of.”
Renalyn says they were told the school would be closed for the entire week, but beyond that, they don’t know what will happen.
“They are giving assistance to the families…counselling,” she said.
She says members of the community are working to support each other, mentioning at least one GoFundMe account.
Police and provincial authorities have not yet confirmed any identifying details of other victims, but shared that eight people, including the suspect, were found dead inside the school, and two more were found dead in a nearby home.
—With files from Jack Rabb
