Tributes are pouring in for a 13-year-old Abbotsford girl murdered in what school authorities describe as a "random act of violence."
The student could not be saved after an unknown intruder entered Abbotsford Senior Secondary Tuesday afternoon and attacked her.
She has been identified on social media and an online fundraiser launched by a family friend as Letisha Reimer.
A second girl, described by police as a 14-year-old friend, was also stabbed. She remains in hospital in serious condition, and cannot be named because of a court-ordered publication ban.
School district Supt. Kevin Godden said classes were in session when the assailant entered the building, but there is no indication he knew the teens.
Godden said staff rushed to stop the attacker in the midst of the "horrific situation."
"They stopped this individual, first by just yelling at him and then the staff converged on him and got him. The knife fell from his hands and they got him to take a seat while they held him in some restraint and then provided first aid to the students, who were obviously hurt," he said.
Others could have been hurt or killed if it wasn't for staff and students who bravely intervened, said Sgt. Jennifer Pound in a news briefing the day after Reimer's death.
"We are lucky not to have further individuals who were hurt in this," she told reporters.
"Their first reaction was to respond and assist and we thank them for it."
The random violence has shaken the school community, who are now coming to grips with the death of one of their own.
A vigil for students and the Abbotsford community was planned at St. Anne's Church between 6 and 8 p.m.
Mourners were also invited to a gathering planned for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Valleyview Bible Church in Kamloops, where Reimer had reportedly been an active member.
“It will be a difficult time but please make every effort to be here, even if you didn’t know Letisha, so that you can be with your brothers and sisters in their time of need," youth pastor Kurtus Niessen said in a Facebook post.
"Pray that God would be with us tonight as we process, grieve, and call on Him for everything we need.”
An online fundraiser posted by a family friend described the young woman's death as "the greatest loss imaginable," describing Reimer as vibrant and beautiful.
Money raised will be given to the family to give them "ample time to focus on nothing but healing."
"Nobody should have to worry about bills at a time like this," Tamara Brown wrote.
In an emotional press conference, B.C. Premier Christy Clark said she was shocked and saddened by the violence.
“As a mother of a 15 year old who also goes to school every day, we all think about, every day, each of us think about our children and how much we love them. Every once in a while, we also think about what it would be like to lose them,” she said.
“I think it’s fair to say that for any parent the loss of the child is a frightening prospect and absolutely the most painful thing that could happen in a parent’s life.”
Gabriel Klein, 21, is charged with murder and aggravated assault.
Police say the suspect, who is of no fixed address, has no connection to the school or community whatsoever, and are now looking to establish why he was in Abbotsford.
Pound said there is still no indication what the motive was for the violence that claimed the life of the young teen.
