Two decades after school shooting, survivor now serves as a police officer in Montreal
Santos says therapy and training helped him overcome trauma before joining the force he says saved his life.
- On Friday, Montreal residents and survivors including James Santos gathered to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Dawson College shooting, which killed one person and wounded 19 others on September 13, 2006.
- A gunman entered Dawson College two decades ago, killing 18-year-old Anastasia De Sousa and injuring 16 others; the tragedy permanently altered the lives of students present that day, including Santos.
- Santos spent years addressing his trauma through therapy and setting small goals, such as watching action movies, to process the event; he eventually learned to view the memories from a third-person perspective.
- After working in a town outside Montreal, Santos joined the Montreal Police in 2018, fulfilling his desire to serve the force he credited with saving his life and giving back to the community.
- During the commemoration at the school's Peace Garden, Louise De Sousa urged the federal government to tighten gun control laws, while loved ones honored the cheerful character of her daughter, Anastasia.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Dawson shooting survivor turned SPVM officer reflects on friend's death 20 years on
Two decades ago, James Santos saw his friend die in a shooting at a Montreal college. Now he is a Montreal police officer working for the force he says saved his life that day.
Two decades after school shooting, survivor now serves as a police officer in Montreal
On Sept. 13, 2006, a gunman entered Dawson college and opened fire on students, killing 18-year-old Anastasia De Sousa and injuring 16 others.
Dawson college shooting survivor now serves as Montreal police officer 20 years later
On Sept. 13, 2006, a gunman entered Dawson college and opened fire on students in the hall. One student was killed and 16 people were injured.
Two decades after school shooting, survivor now serves as a police officer in Monreal
MONTREAL - Two decades ago, James Santos saw his friend die in a shooting at a Montreal college. Now, he is a Montreal police officer, working for the force he says saved his life that day.
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A survivor of the Dawson shooting who became a police officer refused to remain with his arms during the shooting in the Côte-des-Neiges district.
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