The Tragic Day That Marked Alberta's First Mass School Shooting
Long before the names Columbine, Sandy Hook, or Tumbler Ridge became synonymous with school violence, a quiet Monday in Edmonton witnessed a horrific event that would become Alberta's first documented mass school shooting. On March 16, 1959, at Ross Sheppard High School, a former student's actions would leave an indelible mark on the community and Canadian history.
A Dropout Returns With Deadly Intent
Stanley George Williamson, a 19-year-old who had recently dropped out of Ross Sheppard High School, arrived at his former alma mater carrying a borrowed rifle. According to contemporary reports from the Edmonton Journal archives, Williamson was distraught over a romantic breakup and specifically targeted his perceived rival.
The violence began immediately as Williamson encountered 16-year-old Howard Gates walking out of the school with Diane Kane, Williamson's ex-girlfriend. Gates was shot in the chest, with the bullet striking his heart. Despite being mortally wounded, Gates stumbled back into the school building, where he was struck by two more bullets in his back before collapsing into the arms of a teacher.
Chaos and Courage in the Hallways
As the shooting continued, Kane was wounded in the face, and several other students became victims of Williamson's rampage. Judy Polton, 18, would require surgery for a bullet wound, while Kathleen Powers, Elaine Mrochuk, and Lynn Tomlinson, all 17, suffered bullet wounds during the terrifying incident.
Amidst the chaos, extraordinary bravery emerged from ordinary students. John Latham, 18, had been outside the school and could have remained safe, but recalling an argument between Williamson and Gates from the previous week, he chose to enter the building and confront the danger.
The Heroic Takedown That Ended the Shooting
When Latham approached within five feet of Williamson, the shooter turned and fired at near point-blank range. Latham dove at Williamson, knocking him down and beginning the struggle that would ultimately end the violence.
Bill Speer, 18, joined the fray immediately, and the rifle was fired point blank at both young men but somehow missed them completely, though police later found powder burns indicating how close the call had been.
Mike Campbell, 18, described hearing shots ahead as he walked along the corridor and seeing Gates being chased down the hall by a youth firing a rifle. Campbell entered the struggle with Speer and Latham, grabbing for the gun as it discharged a bullet that passed between his knees and embedded itself in a locker.
A Community Forever Changed
Wayne Smith, 15, initially thought the sharp cracks and crouching Williamson were part of a stunt or promotion for a school play. "While the three boys were fighting with him, the rifle went off again," Smith recalled. "About five more guys piled in, and then he just went limp."
As the smoke cleared, Smith saw the tragic aftermath among the milling students. "I saw Howie Gates lying on his back. He wasn't moving." Latham and Speer dragged the captive Williamson to his feet and held him against the wall, where witnesses testified he repeatedly asked, "Why don't you shoot me?"
This tragic event at Ross Sheppard High School represents not just a historical footnote but a sobering reminder of school violence that predates more widely known incidents by decades. The courage displayed by students who risked their lives to stop the shooter stands as a testament to human bravery in the face of unimaginable terror.
