A woman who was reportedly struggling with mental health issues shot her four children at their Byron home on Monday afternoon before turning the gun on herself, authorities say.

Three of the children died at the residence while the fourth has been fighting for her life in a Utah hospital. The children’s mother died on Tuesday.

“Our hearts and prayers go out to all those who are affected and grieving by this extremely horrible and tragic incident,” Big Horn County Sheriff Ken Blackburn wrote in a Tuesday news release.

Blackburn said the children’s mother, 32-year-old Tranyelle Harshman, called 911 around 1:30 p.m. Monday and reported that her children had been shot.

Harshman said where responders would find the children and indicated that she planned to take her own life next, the release said. A dispatcher pleaded with her to stay on the line until emergency personnel arrived, but the call was disconnected.

Personnel from the sheriff’s office, the Wyoming Highway Patrol and the Lovell Police Department responded quickly, Blackburn wrote, but three of the children — 2-year-old Jordan Harshman, almost 3-year-old Brooke Harshman and 9-year-old Brailey Blackmer — died at the scene.

The surviving child, 7-year-old Olivia Blackmer, was rushed to North Big Horn Hospital in Lovell, air lifted to Billings and then flown to a hospital in Salt Lake City with serious head injuries. She remained in critical condition on Wednesday.

Tranyelle Harshman was transported by ground ambulance to Billings, but later died. 

Her husband and the girls’ father/stepfather, Cliff Harshman, told Cowboy State Daily that Tranyelle had been seeking help and receiving treatment for mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder, postpartum depression and depression. But he said Monday’s incident was “so out of character.”

“My wife was incredible and I love her very much,” Cliff wrote on Facebook. “My heart is angry at the decision made but I know how much she loved our kids.”

The two oldest girls were students at Rocky Mountain Elementary School in Cowley, and Principal Eric Honeyman sent a Monday afternoon message to staff and parents about the shooting.

“This loss will deeply affect our communities, and our thoughts are with both of these girls, their families and friends during this incredibly difficult time,” Honeyman wrote.

He added that the school had counselors available on-site for anyone who might need assistance in processing the loss and encouraged parents to reach out for any additional resources their children may need.

“We will make every effort to help you and your child,” Honeyman wrote.

Efforts are also underway to support the impacted family members, including Cliff, a former Powell resident.

“This devastating event has left Cliff and his loved ones reeling in grief, struggling to come to terms with the immense void left in their lives,” Brodie Bosick wrote on a GoFundMe page, adding that the community is “rallying around him to offer love, support, and financial assistance during this darkest of times.”

A separate GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support the father of the two oldest girls, Quinn Blackmer of Utah, and his family. 

“Please rally around Quinn and [his wife] Katelynn as they prepare to bury one daughter and beg and pray that the other survives this horrible tragic event,” wrote organizer Wendy Rupper.

As of Wednesday, the two campaigns had raised over $130,000 from over 1,700 donations.

Statewide grief 

Shock and grief shot quickly through the state Monday night even as the scant first details about the deaths were emerging. 

In Cheyenne, the Wyoming Legislature was working late, trying to pass bills ahead of a midnight deadline for certain votes. In first the Senate and then the House, lawmakers representing Big Horn Basin communities stepped to the chamber microphones, pausing the often contentious policy debates with calls for a moment of silence and unity.  

In the Wyoming Senate, veteran lawmaker Sen. Dan Laursen (R-Powell) sought to read  the sheriff’s initial press release aloud, but found himself too overcome with emotion to do so. Sen. Tim French (R-Powell) stepped up to read the missive in his stead. 

“Please pray for the individuals up there and for the community. It’s a bad deal,” French said to his colleagues. Sen. Chris Rothfuss, the Laramie Democrat who at the time was running the chamber debate, then led senators into a moment of silence. 

Soon afterwards, Rep. Dalton Banks, a Cowley Republican in his second term, made his own announcement in the Wyoming House chamber down the hall. 

“A lot of times we stand at these microphones and say some good things about some people in our community and there’s other times when you have to say hard things about things that happen in your community,” Banks said. “Back home we have had a tragedy strike.”

He too found himself choked up with emotions as he asked his colleagues to stand in silence. Both chambers then resumed debate. 

Banks on Monday described Byron as a closely-woven together town that has made its living off agriculture and oil production. “It’s this small, tight-knit community,” Banks said. “That’s most of our communities in the Big Horn Basin. We’re close together, tight knit.” 

Because of that closeness, the tragedy will hit particularly hard, said Banks, whose brother lives in Byron. 

“You think we’re kind of immune to stuff like that,” the lawmaker said of the shocking violence. “But even close to home, tragedies can strike.” 

In times of loss, Banks said, small towns in his district come together to aid grieving families. Neighbors cook meals, take on farm or home chores and raise money for funeral expenses. 

“I expect our communities to step up,” Banks said. “They always do. You can’t take away the pain, but you can help somebody be stronger to bear it, and our communities do a real good job of that.” 

Laursen knew the family involved, he told a WyoFile reporter Tuesday. He said his heart went out to friends, family and neighbors in the Big Horn Basin and that he believed the community would pull together. 

“It’s devastating,” Laursen said. “I don’t know what else to say.” 

Gov. Mark Gordon also added his sympathies Tuesday afternoon.

“[First Lady] Jennie and I are heartbroken by the loss of innocent children’s lives in Byron yesterday,” Gordon said in a Facebook post. “Our hearts and prayers go out to the family of the victims, first responders and the entire Byron community, who are all impacted by this tragedy.”

‘Help is here’

Sheriff Blackburn thanked the highway patrol, Lovell police and the other agencies that assisted his staff — including ambulance crews from North Big Horn Hospital and Powell Valley Hospital, Cody Regional Health’s First Flight of Wyoming and the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.

“The brave men and women of our local emergency service teams ran into a rapidly, intense, evolving situation selflessly to serve their community and preserve life,” Blackburn wrote in the release. The nightmare they witnessed “should be something that no one should have to endure,” he said.

Wendy Morris of Healthy Park County noted that anyone can face mental health challenges, adding that, “we just don’t know what people are going through.”

“Support is available, and seeking help is a sign of strength,” Morris wrote in a Tuesday email. “We encourage our community to stand together, break the stigma surrounding mental health, and ensure everyone feels seen and supported. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out — help is here, and hope is real.”

(Patti Carpenter of the Lovell Chronicle contributed reporting)