Fifth shooting victim dies

CODY (WNE) — Olivia Blackmer,  7, the sole survivor of the February 10 murder-suicide carried out by her mother that left her three sisters and mother dead, died Saturday.

According to a Gofundme page organized for Olivia’s father and step-mother, Olivia was life-flighted to a neurology department in Salt Lake City after the events of February 10. She received extensive treatment over the course of multiple days in an attempt to save her life.

However, Olivia succumbed to her injuries at 3:44 p.m. on Saturday, according to an update posted by Katelynn Blackmer, Olivia’s step-mother, to the Gofundme page.

“Her body and brain had been through too much, medication helped but we reached a point where medical options were exhausted and her body only continued to get worse,” Blackmer said in the posted update. “We want to thank each and every one of you for your prayers and support for our family.”

The incident began on February 10 when first responders were dispatched to the 200 block of East Shoshone Street in Byron after receiving a call from Tranyelle Harshman.  She told dispatch that her four children had been shot, before hanging up and shooting herself, according to a statement by the Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office.

When officers arrived, they found the four girls aged 2-9 and their mother had all sustained gunshot wounds to the head.  Two of the children were already dead when law enforcement entered the residence.

Harshman, 7 year-old Olivia, and one of the 2 year-old girls still showed signs of life.  The 2 year-old girl died on scene shortly after first responders arrived and Harshman would pass away in the hospital the following afternoon.

This story was published on February 18, 2025.