(Byron, WY) – Three children have been declared deceased and another has been transported to the hospital after a 32-year-old Byron woman was reported to have shot each of them before turning the gun on herself, according to a post shared on the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page.
The conditions of the fourth child and the mother, who survived the self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and was also transported to the hospital, are currently unknown.
The identities of those involved have not been released at this time.
The Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office shared yesterday, February 10, that the Public Safety Communications Center received a 911 call at approximately 1:30 PM “regarding shots fired from a residence on the south side of the Town of Byron.”
In a release that was shared today, February 11, the Sheriff’s Office went on to inform that the mother told the dispatchers her four daughters had been shot, and that she believed they were deceased.
After telling dispatch the locations of the four girls in the residence, she stated she could be found in her upstairs bedroom, and “that she was going to do the same to herself,” the release informs.
“The dispatcher pleaded with the female caller over the phone to remain on the line until responding units arrived,” the release continues. “The female caller stated multiple times that she could not do that and that it was too late. Multiple attempts to keep her on the line failed and the call was disconnected.”
Law Enforcement arrived within minutes before making entry into the home, while “working in conjunction with the Lovell Police Department Communications Center, Ambulances from North Big Horn Hospital District in Lovell, and Powell Valley Healthcare in Powell.”
Upon entering the residence, “officers observed two female children aged 2 and 9 years old, deceased with gunshot wounds to the head and two female children aged 2 and 7 years old still alive with gunshot wounds to the head.” The 2-year-old later succumbed to her injuries at the scene.
The mother was soon located in the upstairs bedroom where she had advised, and was “found to have signs of life with a single gunshot wound to the head.”
“Ambulance personnel rapidly transported the 7 year old female to North Big Horn Hospital where she was immediately provided advanced life support and soon after air lifted by Cody Regional Health-First Flight of Wyoming air medical helicopter to an advanced level of care,” the release continues, and the mother was transported to the North Big Horn Hospital where she was also “provided advanced life support and rapidly transported to an advanced level of care.”
The release goes on to state that the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office remained on scene until the early morning hours on Tuesday to document and process evidence, and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigations was also requested to assist the Sheriff’s Office with their advanced Crime Scene Investigations Unit out of Cheyenne, along with multiple local Special Agents assigned to the Northwest Enforcement Team out of Cody.
The Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office went on to thank the following agencies and all personnel “for their response and support during this tragic event.”
- Lovell Police Department
- Lovell Police Department Dispatch Center
- Wyoming Highway Patrol
- Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigations Northwest Enforcement Team
- Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigations Crime Scene Unit
- North Big Horn Hospital Ambulance
- North Big Horn Hospital Emergency Room
- Powell Valley Healthcare Ambulance
- Cody Regional Health- First Flight of Wyoming
“This incident evolved rapidly,” the release continues. “We want to ensure that the facts of this incident are accurate. This release shall serve as the most up to date information regarding this incident that is available to us. Please note that this is an open and ongoing investigation and not all details are available to be released.”
The release, signed by Big Horn County Sheriff Ken Blackburn, concludes with the following words.
“The brave men and women of our local emergency service teams ran into a rapidly, intense, evolving situation selflessly to serve their community and preserve life. The nightmare that this incident witnessed to these brave men and women should be something that no one should have to endure. Wherever you are in this great State or Country, please take a moment to thank and support all first responders. Our hearts and prayers go out to all those who are affected and grieving by this extremely horrible and tragic incident.”
The statement can be read in full below.
If you or anyone you know is contemplating suicide, call the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 now or text “WYO” to 741-741 for the Crisis Text Line.