‘Just killed 2 ppl:’ A look at events in the La Loche school shooting

Jan. 22, 2016, between 1:08 p.m. and 1:10 p.m. — Police arrive at the school. Officers see the outside door has been shot. They see a shooter inside and chase him deeper into the school.

Jan. 22, 2016, 1:15 p.m. — Police challenge the shooter and he surrenders without negotiation or incident. Officers find nine people shot. Teacher’s aide Marie Janvier, 21, dies at the school. Teacher Adam Wood, 35, is rushed to hospital, but cannot be saved.

Jan. 22, 2016, after 1:15 p.m. — Police receive a call about a body in a house. They rush to the home and find Drayden Fontaine, 13, and Dayne Fontaine, 17, dead.

Jan. 25, 2016 — A 17-year-old boy makes his first court appearance. The teen, who can’t be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder.

Jan. 29, 2016 — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits La Loche. He assures the community that his government will offer support for years to come.

Feb. 26, 2016 — Students return to the high school after changes are made, including added security and counsellors.

Oct. 28, 2016 — The accused, who has turned 18, pleads guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder. The Crown says it wants him sentenced as an adult. Two weeks are set aside for a sentencing hearing in May and June.

Jan. 9, 2017 — Greg Hatch, principal of the La Loche high school, says students and staff are still suffering and feel they’ve been abandoned to deal with the trauma alone.

May 15-18, 2017 — The first week of a sentencing hearing for the teen is held in Meadow Lake, Sask. An agreed statement of facts details the shooter’s actions and the court hears from victims who talk about their survivors’ guilt. The mother of the two Fontaine boys forgives the shooter. There is very little explanation for motive. The teen’s lawyer, Aaron Fox, says there isn’t a simple explanation for what happened. He notes his client has cognitive, social and developmental issues.

June 13-16, 2017 — The second week of a sentencing hearing, again in Meadow Lake, hears from the teen, who tearfully says if he could talk to Wood, he would tell him he was sorry. “I would say to him: ‘I didn’t really know you, but I heard you were a good person, a kind person … and I’m sorry I shot you.’” The teen also apologizes to Marie Janvier’s mother. “I’m sorry I ruined your life and took your daughter away. All she wanted to do was help students.”

Oct. 20, 2017 — After delays, the sentencing hearing concludes. The Crown argues shooter should be sentenced as an adult because he pleaded guilty to serious crimes, researched school shootings and guns and carried out his plan “with stark efficiency.” The Defence says shooter has fetal alcohol syndrome and cognitive impairments, and should be dealt with as a youth. Judge Janet McIvor says she will deliver her decision in La Loche.

Feb. 23 — Judge Janet McIvor rules that the shooter will be sentenced as an adult. She tells a courtroom in La Loche that a youth sentence would not be appropriate because of the profound impact the shooting has had on the community.

May 8 — McIvor hands down a sentence of life with no chance of parole for 10 years, calling the shootings “senseless” and “coldly horrific.” She criticizes a lack of counselling in the community. “They have been abandoned,” she says. “They have been let down.”

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

‘Just killed 2 ppl:’ A look at events in the La Loche school shooting

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