W. R. Myers High School shooting

The W.R. Myers High School shooting occurred on April 28, 1999, at W. R. Myers High School in Taber, Alberta, Canada when a 14-year-old walked into his school and randomly shot at three students, killing Jason Lang and injuring another. [http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/1999/04/28/alberta990428.html One dead, one wounded in Alberta school shooting] , cbc.ca, November 10, 1999] This shooting took place only eight days after the Columbine High School Massacre, and is widely believed to have been a copycat crime. [http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2000/11/17/taber_shooting001117.html Boy charged in Taber shooting gets three years] , cbc.ca, November 18, 2000]

The shooting

Smith walked into the school grounds just after lunch armed with a sawed off .22 rifle and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. He fired at a group of three students, first hitting 17-year-old Jason Lang at point-blank range. He then shot at two other students, seriously wounding one, and missing the other. [http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/1999/04/29/taber990429.html, Alberta town tries to understand] , cbc.ca, November 10, 2000] Smith's family stated that he "snapped" after watching coverage of the Columbine massacre, which had occurred a week prior. The Columbine shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold had also been bullied and the shooter emulated them by wearing a blue trenchcoat.

Gym teacher Cheyno Finnie wrestled Smith to the ground. He was arrested without further incident by a Taber constable, who also served as the school's resource officer. He was charged with one count of first-degree murder, and two counts of attempted murder. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/1999/07/26/taber990726.html Taber teen gets new charge] , cbc.ca, November 10, 2000]

The perpetrator

The shooter, whose identity had legal protection under Canada's Young Offenders Act, has since been revealed in the media as Todd Cameron Smith. [ [http://www.article-emporium.ca/articledetail.php?artid=46406&catid=73&title=Schools'+Biggest+Threat] , Article Emporium unknown edit date] He was a 14-year-old dropout and had recently left W.R. Myers High after frequent bullying. According to court documents, he had been frequently victimized, including having being doused with lighter fluid and threatened to be set on fire when he was in grade one. He was later frequently assaulted, and by the time he was a teenager, he had become "reclusive and extremely fearful." His mother said he had been showing signs of depression prior to the shooting. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/taber/ CBC In Depth: Tragedy in Taber] , cbc.ca, April 27, 2004] Smith was also living in poverty, as they hardly had any electricity. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/taber/ CBC In Depth: Tragedy in Taber] , cbc.ca, April 27, 2004]

Trial

Crown prosecutors attempted to have Smith, still a minor at the time, tried as an adult with the potential for a life sentence due to the severity of the crime. The Crown also argued that an adult prison would offer greater educational programs than a youth facility could provide. The court denied the motion and he was tried as a minor.

Following the arrest and prior to trial, a medical examination discovered Smith had a heart condition that required open heart surgery. During the surgery, he suffered a stroke and fell into a coma. After awakening from the coma, he had problems speaking and eating and suffered from diminished mental capacity

His case was suspended until he recovered, as both the Crown and defense agreed he was unable to stand trial. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2000/01/05/taberboy000105.html Teen's illness postpones Taber trial] , cbc.ca, January 5, 2000] Following a "remarkable recovery", he was declared fit to stand trial, and was scheduled to go to court in September of 2000. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2000/04/05/taber000405.html Taber suspect fit to stand trial] , cbc.ca, last updated November 11, 2000]

At his trial, Smith plead guilty to all three counts, and was sentenced to three years in prison, and was ordered to spend seven years under community supervision upon his release.

Aftermath

Halfway house escape

In March 2005, the convicted killer was released into a halfway house in Toronto, despite the agreement of the judge that the then 20-year-old remained a danger to society. By August, he walked out of his halfway house, leaving behind a note saying that "he wouldn't be caged any longer -- and he wouldn't surrender alive." His escape prompted Toronto police to obtain a court injunction allowing them to publicize his identity until such time as he was caught. [ [http://whokilledtheresa.blogspot.com/2005/08/blog-post.html Man convicted in Taber, Alta., school shooting walks away from halfway house] , Canadian Press via Who Killed Theresa? blog, August 15, 2005] [ [http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Page/document/v5/content/subscribe?user_URL=http://www.theglobeandmail.com%2Fservlet%2Fstory%2FRTGAM.20050815.wtaber0815%2FBNStory%2FNational%2F&ord=5931648&brand=theglobeandmail&force_login=true Taber killer escapes in Toronto] , Globe and Mail, August 15, 2005] However, Smith turned himself in to authorities the following day and was recaptured without violence. The waiver allowing publication of his identity in Canada lapsed upon his recapture, though not before his name was published or released by several news outlets across the country. Following his recapture, Canadian media were required to no longer use Smith's name or photograph, as they had the previous day.

Apology

After the shooting, Reverend Dale Lang immediately forgave his son's killer. Rev. Lang preaches the need for compassion and forgiveness and has become a well-known public speaker and anti-bullying lobbyist. [Bakh, Sarom, [http://www.peak.sfu.ca/the-peak/2000-1/issue4/forgiveness.html Reverend Dale Lang: Teaching forgiveness] , SFU "Peak", February 7, 2000]

ee also

*School shooting

References