Polytechnique 2009

Preparation and message for his mother

A young man arms himself with a Ruger Mini-14 and sets out to attack. Before departing, he leaves a message for his mother signaling his intention. The act is prepared with cold resolve and a chilling sense of finality.

Invasion of the classroom and demands

He arrives at Polytechnique Montreal during a class and interrupts the session with the Mini-14. He orders the men to leave and the women to stay, then shoots into the ceiling to prove his seriousness. He proclaims that he hates feminists, though the women deny this label; they comply to stay safe.

Massacre spreads through corridors and cafeteria

He moves through the building, systematically targeting women across corridors and the cafeteria. The violence escalates as several female students are shot, leaving a trail of casualties and wounded survivors. The campus grows chaotic as more people seek safety and try to understand what is happening.

Jean-François attempts to intervene

Jean-François, a male student, had been ordered to leave but decides to return in an act of defiance or restraint. He tries to stop the killer or help the victims, risking his own safety. His actions contrast with the earlier obedience of others in the room.

Valérie and Stéphanie survive by playing dead; Stéphanie wounded

Valérie and Stéphanie manage to hide by playing dead, hoping the killer won't return. They survive the initial onslaught, but Stéphanie dies later from her injuries, leaving Valérie to cope with the aftermath. The tension lingers as the killer's path continues through the building.

Another classroom targeted; female lecturer killed

The killer reaches a second classroom where he murders a female lecturer. The assault widens beyond students to include staff, deepening the horror of the attack. Victims are left in shock as the assailant's violence travels further through the campus.

Killer commits suicide

After carrying out the attacks, the gunman takes his own life. His suicide ends the massacre, and his body lies in the final room alongside his victims. The scene marks the abrupt conclusion of the violence.

Jean-François's guilt leads to suicide

Some time after the massacre, Jean-François, who fled earlier, is overcome by guilt and ends his life with carbon monoxide poisoning. His death adds another layer of tragedy to the event, as survivors wrestle with blame and grief. The community begins to reckon with what happened and why.

Valérie learns she is pregnant

Valérie, wearing the Iron Ring, discovers she is pregnant, adding a glimmer of hope amid the tragedy. The news complicates her emotional response to the day’s events, and she contemplates what she will tell her child about the world. She searches for meaning and strength as she moves forward.