A father has been left heartbroken after his seven-year-old daughter tragically passed away from gunshot wounds, three days after being shot by her mother in a horrific murder-suicide.
Olivia Blackmer had been fighting for her life in a Salt Lake City, Utah hospital for five days after her mother, 32-year-old Tranyelle Harshman, opened fire inside their home in Byron, Wyoming, on February 10.
Despite undergoing brain surgery and being sedated to reduce swelling, Olivia passed away on Saturday afternoon. Her family shared that she “fought so hard until the very end.”
Olivia’s three sisters, Brailey, 9, Brooke, almost 3, and two-year-old Jordan, were also tragically killed in the shooting. They were pronounced dead at the scene.
Quinn Blackmer, Olivia’s father, shared the devastating news in a Facebook post on Sunday, expressing that his family was “absolutely gutted.” He wrote, “The amount of devastation we feel is immense,” adding that he found “peace” in knowing that his daughters could now be together.
Blackmer thanked those who supported the family through a GoFundMe campaign, which raised more than $108,000 as of Monday. He also expressed deep gratitude for the prayers and generosity of those who stood by the family.
The tragic events began when Harshman shot her four daughters on February 10. She called the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office around 1:30 p.m. that day but did not confess to the shooting. Instead, she stated that a shooting had occurred at her home and that she believed all four of her children were dead.
Upon arriving, deputies found two of the children—two-year-old Jordan and Brailey—dead from gunshot wounds to their heads. Olivia and another two-year-old girl were also shot but still alive. Sadly, the surviving two-year-old died shortly after.
Harshman was found in her bedroom with a gunshot wound to her head but was still alive when police arrived. She later passed away in the hospital.
Olivia was airlifted to Primary Children’s Hospital, where she underwent brain surgery and was heavily sedated. Despite efforts to save her, doctors explained there were no further surgical options due to swelling in her brain.
Wyoming residents rallied for Olivia, organizing candlelight vigils and prayers, including a special service in Uganda, where children sent messages of love and hope. Tragically, Olivia died on Saturday, February 17.
“Olivia is with her sisters now. She gained her angel wings yesterday at 3:49 p.m. She fought so hard until the last minute,” her stepmother Katelynn Blackmer shared in an update. “We are grateful for the time we had with our sweet baby girl.”
Katelynn also thanked everyone for their support, noting that the family was in a “rough spot” after losing both Olivia and Brailey. As of Sunday, the family’s GoFundMe had raised nearly $106,000.
Olivia’s father, Quinn, had previously expressed his anger over the tragedy but later focused on grieving and cherishing the time they had with their daughter. He said, “That anger isn’t going to bring my child back.”
Meanwhile, Harshman’s husband, Cliff, defended his wife, citing her struggles with mental health, including post-partum depression. He urged people not to judge too quickly, stating, “People don’t understand how mental illness isn’t just a willpower thing. It’s chemical imbalances in your brain.”
Cliff also acknowledged his anger at the choices his wife made, but emphasized that Harshman had been an “incredible mom” who loved her children deeply.
