More than a month after the deadly mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, stories of bravery during the tragedy are being shared.
At the National Prayer Breakfast in Ottawa Tuesday morning, Conservative MP Bob Zimmer for Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies spoke about the heroic actions of a 12-year-old student named Christina.
He says the youth cared for wounded classmates in the library at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, including Abel Mwansa Jr., who did not survive the attack. She then broke the news of the boy’s death to his parents by knocking on their door and passing on his final words.
“‘Tell my mom and dad that I love them.’ Christina promised Abel Jr. she would pass it on, and she did,” Zimmer said.
“Christina is a hero. I was honoured to meet Christina at one of the funerals,” he said.
“The tragic yet beautiful words from a beloved son to his beloved parents. Beautiful words they wouldn’t have known except for a promise kept by his heroic classmate.”
Eight people, most of them children, were killed in the mass shooting on Feb. 10.
Zimmer said he also met with the family of victim Maya Gebala over the weekend. The youth is still in hospital after sustaining severe injuries during the attack.
Gebala had tried to lock the doors to the library and keep the shooter out, noted Zimmer, but wasn’t able to.
He says Christina pulled both Mwansa and Gebala to safety, bringing them underneath a table.
“She held them both and was there for about 30 minutes while the shooting continued,” Zimmer said. “Maya is recovering in hospital today. I know, in part, thanks to Christina.”
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