Police say they’re investigating reports of threats against the family of one of the victims of the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge on Feb. 10.
In a statement to CBC News Saturday morning, the B.C. RCMP says it is aware of the threats and that it is investigating.
“A safety plan is in place for the individual(s) and community as the investigation continues. RCMP officers in the community have connected with the mayor, and community leaders to ensure ongoing communication and public safety planning.”
The alleged threats led to the cancellation of a planned private funeral for the victim, whose family says in a statement circulated on social media that they believe they’re not the only ones being harassed.
Posting to its Facebook page on Friday evening, local newspaper Tumbler RidgeLines said the funeral for 12-year-old Kylie Smith, closed to the public and planned for Saturday, has been cancelled “due to legitimate potential threats.”
Just before 12 p.m. PT on Saturday, the Tumbler Ridge Chamber of Commerce, on its own Facebook page, shared a screenshot of a statement appearing to be from Smith’s parents, Lance Younge and Jenny Geary.
The statement expressed thanks to the people who’ve reached out to check in, and said they’re getting help from police.
“Police are well-aware of the situation and are helping us through this,” it reads.
“We are SO SORRY we had to cancel Kylie’s service today,” the statement goes on to say. “We saw how hard everyone was working on it.”
The statement claims they’re not the only family of the victims to be harassed or threatened.
“From what we are hearing, we are at least the third family of the deceased to be harassed or threatened,” the statement reads in part.
When asked about threats to other families of the victims, police would not say.
“I don’t have any information to add at this time,” the RCMP told CBC News in a statement.
