By Kathy Gallant

‘It was the first time I ever felt scared in La Loche’: Shooting victim

May 17, 2017 | 4:06 PM

Fear of loud noises. Terror around windows and doors. Medical and financial implications. Waking up crying. Reliving the day’s events. A complete loss of safety and security. Unending pain. Relentless trauma.

These were just a few common phrases several victims of a mass shooting in La Loche included in their victim impact statements.

Today, May 17, is second day of sentencing hearings in Meadow Lake for the gunman – who was 17-years-old at the time –  who killed four and injured seven on January 22, 2016. 

In October, he pleaded guilty to the first-degree murders of teacher’s aide Marie Janvier, 21, and teacher Adam Wood, 35, as well as second-degree murder in the deaths of brothers Dayne and Drayden Fontaine, who were shot in their home. He also pleaded guilty to seven counts of attempted murder.

The two-week hearings is to determine if the now 19-year-old will be sentenced as an adult. He cannot be named due to a court-ordered publication ban under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Missing pet

'She means the world to our family': Woman seeks help in finding missing pet parrot

2h ago

BE CAREFUL ON THE ROADS

Semi flips outside P.A.; one of dozens of incidents on Sask. roads due to winter weather

2h ago

NO GO FOR BUSES

School bus routes outside P.A. canceled due to spring snowstorm

7h ago

Teacher Peter Bradley was housemates with Wood, and stated in court he wakes up crying with thoughts of his colleague and friend. He said he misses having conversations with Marie and taught Drayden, whose desk has been turned into a memorial. He also said the Dene building of the La Loche community school is a constant reminder of the events that day.

Phyllis Longobardi was the assistant principal at the time of the shootings. She herself was shot with six pellets and suffered a stroke as a result. 

“I feel like my brain is oscillating,” she said.

She also said she will never forget the image of the gun barrel pointed at her.

“It’s ingrained in my memory…doubt it will ever go away,” she said.

Longobardi argued the youth should face an adult sentence.

“He pulled the trigger,” she said. “It’s an adult crime and need to be punished as such… he needs to not be given the opportunity to forget what happened.”

Mariah Walker attended the scene at the home of Drayden and Dayne that day, saying she desperately tried to get into the house with no avail. She said when the police arrived, she noticed the shift of expression on officers’ faces.

“It was the first time I ever felt scared in La Loche,” she noted. She turned to the youth to say: “you will never take away my love for [the community].”

Several other statements were read, some by family members of the shooter. 

In the afternoon, court listened to the police interview with the teen on Oct. 29, the day after he pleaded guilty to the aforementioned charges.  

kathy.gallant@jpbg.ca  

On Twitter @ReporterKath

Editor’s Note: Commenting on this story is closed.