Two decades after a tragic mass shooting at Dawson College in Montreal, survivor James Santos reflects on the day that claimed the life of his friend and ultimately shaped his career path. Sunday marks the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 13, 2006, attack, which left 18-year-old Anastasia De Sousa dead and 19 others injured. Santos, who was a 17-year-old student at the time, was having lunch with De Sousa in the packed cafeteria when a gunman entered and opened fire near the entrance. Realizing the danger, Santos sought cover behind chairs, while De Sousa stood up and was struck by the initial gunfire. Believing she had fainted, Santos crawled over to console her before the shooter forced him to act as a human shield. During the terrifying ordeal, Santos attempted to talk the shooter down, fed him false directions about the school layout, and accepted that he might not survive. The gunman eventually fired additional rounds at De Sousa before police intervened, prompting the gunman to take his own life. Following the harrowing event, Santos battled severe survivor’s guilt, nightmares, and panic attacks. He spent years overcoming his trauma through therapy, small exposure goals, and a decade-long stint in the military where he worked to manage his reaction to the smell of gunpowder. In 2008, former Governor General Michaëlle Jean awarded Santos the Star of Courage. Driven by a desire to give back to the institution that saved his life, Santos eventually entered the police academy and joined the Montreal police force in 2018. A commemorative ceremony was held on Friday at the school’s Peace Garden, bringing together survivors, students, and De Sousa’s family to honor her memory and call for stricter gun control laws.
Source: cbc.ca
