Family Remembers 'Beautiful, Kind, Innocent Soul' of 12-Year-Old Girl Killed in Tumbler Ridge Mass Shooting
The family of Kylie May Smith, a 12-year-old girl killed in the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting, is grappling with unimaginable grief as they remember the vibrant young life cut short by tragedy. In emotional statements shared online, relatives described their world "crumbling" upon learning Kylie was among the victims.
Devastated Family Struggles to Process Loss
"We are completely devastated and have no words as we try to process the magnitude of the situation," wrote Shanon Dycke, Kylie's aunt, on a GoFundMe campaign established to support the grieving family. The fundraising effort aims to cover memorial expenses and help the family navigate the difficult weeks ahead following the horrific incident that claimed multiple lives.
Dycke revealed that Kylie's mother, Desirae Pisarski, had recently moved to Vancouver Island after nearly twelve years in Tumbler Ridge and hadn't seen her daughter in several months. The young girl had been living in the small northeastern British Columbia community with her father, stepmother, stepbrother, and brother, who had only recently returned to the area.
Tragic Details of the School Shooting
The shooting occurred on Tuesday when an 18-year-old Tumbler Ridge resident identified by RCMP as Jesse Van Rootselaar carried out the attack at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. According to police reports, Van Rootselaar died from a self-inflicted injury inside the school following the violence that left nine people dead and at least twenty-seven others injured.
Among the six victims killed at the school were an adult female teacher, three female students including Kylie Smith, and two male students. One of the male victims was identified in social media posts as 12-year-old Abel Mwansa. Two additional victims, believed to be the shooter's mother and stepbrother, were found deceased at a nearby residence.
Family's Heartfelt Memorial Plans
The GoFundMe campaign organized by Dycke seeks to create "a fitting memorial for Smith, to remember the beautiful, kind, innocent soul she was." In her emotional post, Dycke extended condolences to other affected families, writing, "My heart aches for the other families involved and for the loss of their children. I am so sorry."
She added words of encouragement for families with children still hospitalized: "To the families with children still in the hospital; keep fighting. We are sending you prayers." Dycke declined to provide additional comments when contacted by media outlets, choosing instead to focus on supporting her grieving family members during this traumatic period.
Community and Family Support
The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the small British Columbia community of Tumbler Ridge, with residents and supporters from across the province rallying around affected families. The fundraising effort highlights the practical challenges families face following such unexpected tragedies, from memorial costs to immediate living expenses during periods of profound grief.
As investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, Kylie Smith's family joins other grieving relatives in mourning young lives lost to senseless violence. Their public remembrance of Kylie as a "beautiful, kind, innocent soul" stands as a poignant tribute amid the overwhelming sorrow that has enveloped their community.
