A heartbreaking tragedy in Byron, Wyoming, has claimed the lives of four young girls after an apparent murder-suicide. The last surviving child, a 7-year-old girl who was airlifted to a Utah hospital after being shot in the head, has passed away, according to her family.
Quinn and Katelynn Blackmer, who previously shared updates through Intermountain Children’s Health, confirmed their daughter’s passing in a statement on a GoFundMe page set up for her medical expenses. The girl succumbed to her injuries on Saturday, February 15, after fighting for several days.
“She kept fighting through it all though until her heart stopped,” the update read. “We are grateful she hung on as long as she did so we could get some valuable time with our sweet baby girl the last five days.”
Investigation Into the Tragic Incident
Authorities in Big Horn County responded to a distressing 911 call on Monday, February 10. A woman on the line reported that her daughters had been shot and provided details on their location before stating that she intended to take her own life.
When deputies arrived at the home, they discovered four children, all with gunshot wounds to the head. Two of them, ages 2 and 9, were pronounced dead at the scene. The two surviving girls, ages 2 and 7, were rushed to North Big Horn Hospital. The 7-year-old was later flown to Utah for further treatment, where she ultimately passed away.
Authorities also found the suspected shooter, a 32-year-old woman, in an upstairs bedroom with a gunshot wound to the head. She was still alive and was immediately transported to a local hospital for emergency medical care. Her current condition has not been publicly disclosed. Officials have identified her as the mother of the children.
Community Response and Support
Following the tragedy, another GoFundMe campaign was launched to assist the girls’ father in Wyoming as he copes with the devastating loss.
“We are in a rough spot with the tragic passing of both daughters,” read an update from Katelynn Blackmer. “We took time as a family to grieve and be in the moment before letting the world know, but we wanted to thank everyone for their support.”
The Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office emphasized that the investigation is still ongoing and that more details may be released in the future.
Resources for Those in Crisis
This devastating event serves as a tragic reminder of the impact of domestic violence and mental health struggles. Those in need of immediate support can contact the Utah Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-897-LINK (5465) or call 911 in emergencies.
For individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts, the national crisis hotline is available by dialing 988. Additional mental health resources can be found through the National Alliance on Mental Illness at namiut.org.
