Maya, 12, who was shot in the head during a high school shooting in Canada, has unexpectedly survived, but faces the risk of severe brain damage.
Maya was one of more than two dozen students and teachers injured when 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar opened fire in the library of Tumbler Ridge High School on February 11, killing eight people before committing suicide. Prior to that, the suspect had murdered his mother and younger sibling at home.
Maya’s mother, Cia Edmonds, said doctors at Vancouver Children’s Hospital had warned that her daughter’s brain damage was too severe and that she was unlikely to survive the night. However, Maya “fought bravely,” giving the family a glimmer of hope.
Maya is receiving intensive care in the hospital after the shooting. [Image caption: Maya receiving intensive care in the hospital after the shooting.] Photo: X
However, Edmonds tearfully shared that if Maya survives, she may need a feeding tube and 24/7 care for the rest of her life. “They said if she lives, her life will be just a feeding tube and constant care. I feel cruel for keeping her. But they don’t understand her like I do,” the mother said by her daughter’s bedside on February 12th.
The attack occurred in the small town of Tumbler Ridge, eastern British Columbia. The suspect, Van Rootselaar, is believed to have shot and killed a 39-year-old female teacher, three 12-year-old girls, and two 12-13-year-old boys at the school. Several other victims were seriously injured.
The suspect, Van Rootselaar, is an 18-year-old transgender person. Photo: X
The family of 12-year-old Kylie Smith, one of the students killed, described her as a “beautiful, gentle, and innocent soul.” Kylie’s father said his daughter loved art, enjoyed anime, and dreamed of attending university in Toronto.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said they had previously seized guns from the suspect’s home under the Criminal Code, but the weapons were later returned to their rightful owners.
Authorities said the suspect had a history of contact with authorities regarding mental health issues and stopped attending school at age 14. At the scene, police recovered a rifle and a modified handgun.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney called it one of the deadliest mass shootings since 2020, declaring flags would be flown at half-mast for seven days to commemorate the victims. Local authorities closed schools for a week and held community prayer services and candlelight vigils.
Meanwhile, by her daughter’s bedside, Edmonds clung to a glimmer of hope: “She needs a miracle. I feel she’s still here. But how much longer, we don’t know.”
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