The small town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, is shrouded in grief. Two inseparable 12-year-old girls, Kylie Smith and Ticaria (Tiki) Lampert, lost their lives together on a Tuesday that will forever be etched in the community’s memory.
They were “besties forever in heaven,” a friend of Tiki’s family shared, tears streaming down her face. Tiki’s mother, Sarah Lampert, is left with a void, mourning the loss of her vibrant daughter, described as a “tiki torch, full of fire and beauty.”
A photograph surfaced, a poignant snapshot of joy taken just one day before the tragedy. It shows Kylie playfully jumping on Tiki’s back, a testament to their carefree friendship and the life stolen too soon.
Their bond was everything. Sleepovers, shared classes, whispered secrets – Kylie and Tiki navigated childhood side-by-side, and tragically, shared their final day together. Their connection was a constant in both their young lives.
Tiki is remembered as “a loving, courageous, humorous, one-of-a-kind kiddo,” a bright light extinguished far too early. She leaves behind seven siblings and a mother whose love for her children knew no bounds.
The community is rallying around Sarah Lampert, offering support as she navigates unimaginable loss and the care of her remaining children. The financial burden of a funeral adds another layer of hardship to an already devastating situation.
The senseless act of violence claimed eight lives, left two hospitalized, and injured twenty-five others. An 18-year-old, Jesse Van Rootselaar, with a documented history of mental health interactions with police, initiated the shooting.
He first targeted two individuals at his home before proceeding to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where six more lives were taken. Van Rootselaar was later found deceased at the school, the victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Kylie’s family received the “gut-wrenching news” with disbelief and profound sorrow. Her aunt described her as a “beautiful, kind, innocent soul,” a heartbreaking testament to the innocence lost.
The town of Tumbler Ridge is left to grapple with the aftermath, a community united in grief and searching for answers in the wake of this unimaginable tragedy. The memory of Kylie and Tiki, and all those lost, will forever remain.
