Byron shooting reverberates throughout state

Shock and grief shot quickly through the state Monday night when news broke that a young mother in the small community of Byron allegedly shot her four children before taking her own life. Even as the scant first details about the deaths were emerging, officials throughout the state were commenting on the tragedy. 

In Cheyenne, the Wyoming Legislature was working late, trying to pass bills ahead of a midnight deadline for certain votes. In first the Senate and then the House, lawmakers representing Big Horn Basin communities stepped to the chamber microphones, pausing the often contentious policy debates with calls for a moment of silence and unity.  

In the Wyoming Senate, veteran lawmaker Sen. Dan Laursen, R-Powell, sought to read aloud the sheriff’s initial press release but found himself too overcome with emotion to do so. Sen. Tim French, also R-Powell, stepped up to read the missive in his stead.

“Please pray for the individuals up there and for the community. It’s a bad deal,” French said to his colleagues. Sen. Chris Rothfuss, the Laramie Democrat who at the time was running the chamber debate, then led senators into a moment of silence.

Soon afterwards, Rep. Dalton Banks, a Cowley Republican in his second term, made his own announcement in the Wyoming House chamber down the hall. 

“A lot of times we stand at these microphones and say some good things about some people in our community, and there’s other times when you have to say hard things about things that happen in your community,” Banks said. “Back home we have had a tragedy strike.”

He too found himself choked up with emotions as he asked his colleagues to stand in silence. Both chambers then resumed debate.

Banks on Monday described Byron as a closely woven together town that has made its living off agriculture and oil production.

“It’s this small, tight-knit community,” Banks said. “That’s most of our communities in the Big Horn Basin. We’re close together, tight knit.”

Because of that closeness, the tragedy will hit particularly hard, Banks, whose brother lives in Byron, said.

“You think we’re kind of immune to stuff like that,” the lawmaker said of the shocking violence. “But even close to home, tragedies can strike.”

In times of loss, Banks said, small towns in his district come together to aid grieving families. Neighbors cook meals, take on farm or home chores and raise money for funeral expenses.

“I expect our communities to step up,” Banks said. “They always do. You can’t take away the pain, but you can help somebody be stronger to bear it, and our communities do a real good job of that.”

Laursen knew the family involved, he told a WyoFile reporter Tuesday. He said his heart went out to friends, family and neighbors in the Big Horn Basin and that he believed the community would pull together. 

“It’s devastating,” Laursen said. “I don’t know what else to say.” 

Gov. Mark Gordon also added his sympathies Tuesday afternoon.

“Jennie and I are heartbroken by the loss of innocent children’s lives in Byron yesterday,” Gordon said in a Facebook post. “Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of the victims, first responders and the entire Byron community, who are all impacted by this tragedy.”

First responders

In a Tuesday news release, Big Horn County Sheriff Ken Blackburn thanked the highway patrol, Lovell police and the other agencies that assisted the sheriff’s office — including ambulance crews from North Big Horn Hospital and Powell Valley Hospital, Cody Regional Health’s First Flight of Wyoming and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.

“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,” Blackburn wrote. The nightmare they witnessed “should be something that no one should have to endure,” he said.

The sheriff asked citizens in Wyoming or anywhere across the country to take a moment to thank and support all first responders.

He added that the investigation into the shooting is “open and ongoing.”