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A 16-year old girl who was fatally shot Thursday in Prince Albert is being fondly remembered by her father for her sense of humour and friendly personality.
“Wherever she went, she was always having fun. And she wasn’t afraid to make friends. Anybody that came up to her, she would talk to them,” said Samson Cook.
Cook said his daughter, Rhianna Neilia Cook, recently celebrated her birthday and leaves behind eight siblings. She attended Wesmore Community High School and had dreams of going to university.
“She was a 16-year-old girl who had so many friends, who had a lot going for her and unfortunately it got cut short,” he said.
Rhianna Cook was fatally shot Nov. 27 in a Prince Albert home. (Photo provided by Samson Cook)
A crowd of family, friends and community members gathered, hugged and said prayers outside the families Prince Albert’s West Flat home Saturday evening.
“It means a lot to me and the family because it shows us that we have a lot of support from the community here. And also we have family members that came in from Pelican Narrows to show their support. So that is something that really kind of lifted me up,” said Samson.
Many people in the crowd were teenagers. They placed teddy bears, candles, cards and flowers on the front steps of the West Flat home.
The girl’s mother Darlene Cook was overcome with grief and emotion at the vigil.
“I don’t know if I can talk much because it really hurts,” said Darlene.
“Thanks for everyone that came and supported us.”
The mother of the 16-year-old killed in the fatal shooting, Darlene Cook, at a vigil for her daughter on Saturday in Prince Albert. (Lisa Risom/CBC)
Samson said his daughter was shot in the family’s home in the morning of Thurs. Nov. 27 while the family was asleep.
“Both my wife and I were sleeping when we heard a loud pop. I kind of figured that maybe a balloon popped or a ball was over-inflated,” he said, describing the sound.
Samson and his wife jumped up right away. He said he heard a commotion happening downstairs.
“I looked downstairs and I seen my daughter lying on the floor right at the bottom of the steps so I ran downstairs and apparently she was bleeding from her head,” Samson said.
The Prince Albert Police said they were called to a home in the 900 block of 12th Street West at 8:22 a.m.
Paramedics assessed the girl but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Prince Albert Police arrested a 17-year-old boy in connection to the shooting death. He remains in custody.
Samson said the boy in custody is known to the family.
“All I can say is keep your children safe, away from gang life and away from drugs and alcohol because that’s the leading thing that’s taking all our children away,” he said.
The family is being helped by victim services and is currently staying in a hotel until the investigation concludes and the home is cleaned, said Samson.
Samson runs a medical taxi business and said he dedicated to helping people from the north access health care.
The family moved from Pelican Narrow to Prince Albert several years ago so his children could attend school in the city.
As of Friday, police had not charged the 17-year-old boy in custody. The major crimes unit continues to investigate the shooting.
Samson Cook talks to reporters at a vigil for his daughter Rhianna Cook. (Lisa Risom/CBC)