In a heartrending tragedy that has shaken a close-knit community in Wyoming, seven-year-old Olivia Blackmer lost her life on February 15 after a five-day battle in intensive care. Olivia suffered severe head injuries when her mother, Tranyelle Harshman, opened fire at their home on February 10—a horrific act that also claimed the lives of three of Olivia’s siblings at the scene.
Olivia’s older sister, Brailey, aged nine, and her two-year-old twin half-sisters, Brooke and Jordan, were killed instantly in the violent incident. Despite swift action by emergency services, only Olivia was rushed to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, where intensive medical efforts ultimately proved insufficient to save her, according to the Independent.
Her grieving father, Quinn Blackmer, announced the tragic news on Facebook, expressing heartfelt gratitude towards those who rallied around the family. “Every single person that has donated and prayed and fasted for us and our family and our beautiful Olivia,” he shared, his words a testament to the support that has helped them navigate this unimaginable loss. He added, “The peace I find is knowing that my babies don’t have to be apart from each other and they can also be with their other sisters.”
Olivia’s stepmother, Katelynn, provided additional painful details on a dedicated GoFundMe page set up to cover Olivia’s mounting medical and funeral costs. Katelynn confirmed, “Olivia is with her sisters now. She gained her angel wings yesterday at 3:44 pm.” She went on to detail Olivia’s courageous struggle:
“She fought so hard up til the last minute! Her body and her 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.
She kept fighting through it all though until her heart stopped. We are grateful she hung on as long as she did so we could get some valuable time with our sweet baby girl the last five days. We want to thank each and every one of you for your prayers and support for our family”, according to PEOPLE.
In a separate, anguished account, Cliff Harshman, father to twins Brooke and Jordan, shared his overwhelming grief with local media. “Coping with my daughters’ death is something beyond what I can comprehend,” he confessed. Overcome by emotion, he added, “I’m so angry. I don’t even know how to explain this to you. I’m so angry with her for the decision that was made.”
Amidst the devastation, community support has poured in. One local expressed the tangible kindness witnessed in the aftermath: “I was at a hotel that wouldn’t let me pay. I also went to Murdoch’s to buy a change of clothes and was told not to worry about it.” Another GoFundMe page has been set up to help ease funeral expenses and provide ongoing support to those left reeling from the loss.
Tranyelle Harshman, reportedly struggling with mental health issues, had dialed 911 after the shooting, informing the dispatcher of the location of the bodies before attempting to take her own life. When police arrived, she was still alive, but later succumbed to her injuries at a Billings hospital. The case continues to unfold as investigators seek to piece together the sequence of events that led to this tragic loss.
