Revised - The community of Faro held a vigil Wednesday evening to remember the two people killed and one injured in Tuesday’s shooting rampage.

Jack Bowers, the community’s incoming mayor, said in an interview Thursday many in the town of 500 dropped by the vigil, with 100 or so there at any given time.

It was a last-minute gathering organized by friends of the victims, he said.

“It was very impromptu and essentially unorganized,” said Bowers, who had been scheduled to be sworn into office this past Tuesday. The swearing-in has been postponed to next Tuesday.

“We just felt a sense of community,” he said. “People needed to be with each other and comfort each other.”

Bowers said another gathering was held Thursday night. Chief Jack Caesar of the Ross River Dena Council planned to be there to deliver a prayer for the community of Faro.

RCMP arrested Ralph Bernard Shaw, 61, on Tuesday afternoon. They have charged him with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated assault.

Court documents identify the victims as Patrick McCracken, 73, a former Faro town councillor, and Saenduean Honchaiyaphum, 42. Originally from Thailand, she had lived in Faro for a number of years.

A man injured in the shootings remains in Whitehorse General Hospital. As of Thursday afternoon, his condition was critical.

RCMP Chief Supt. Scott Sheppard and Premier Sandy Silver held a press conference Wednesday afternoon in Whitehorse to talk about the tragedy.

Silver said the situation is truly tragic.

“Our small communities are very tight-knit and this is absolutely devastating for the community and the whole territory,” the premier said.

“Our thoughts are with the people of Faro and especially the families of the victims.

“Our hearts are heavy. This is a very sad time for the Yukon.”

Sheppard explained how the tragedy unfolded, though he stayed close to the script when answering questions from reporters.

The chief superintendent, for instance, would not say what type of firearm was used. He said he did want to jeopardize the investigation or the future court proceedings.

Sheppard said the RCMP received the first phone call about shots being fired at 1:02 p.m. Tueday.

Police went to a residence on Harper Street where a critically injured man was found inside, he said, noting the suspect had already left.

Officers went to another Harper Street residence and located who they called a 42-year-old woman who was unresponsive. Attempts were made to resuscitate her, but she died.

Sheppard said as public safety was the top priority, officers went to the local school to assist staff in putting the building into a secure state, knowing that two daughters of the deceased woman attended the school.

The Emergency Measures Organization issued an emergency alert advising the community of the situation and how to stay safe.

Soon after, as back-up RCMP officers were arriving in Faro, police received another call of shots fired in the area of Yates Crescent and Tintina subdivision.

“The officers attended the area, confronted the subject, and he was safely taken into custody at 1:56 p.m.,” Sheppard said. “There no injuries to the subject or to responding officers.

“After the subject was arrested, police conducted wellbeing checks at other residences in the Tintina subdivision and Yates Crescent. At a residence on Yates Street, police located a 73-year-old male deceased.”

The community alert was rescinded at 3 p.m.

Sheppard said RCMP officers from Faro, Ross River, the M Division Major Crimes Unit in Whitehorse, the M Division Forensic Identification Section and all other Yukon RCMP resources are investigating.

They’re also receiving assistance from the B.C. RCMP Forensic Identification section, he said, adding there remains a significant police presence in Faro.

Sheppard said they are working with Yukon government victims services staff, the chief coroner’s office, and other agencies to provide support to victims, witnesses and the community at large.

Officers, he said, have appreciated the co-operation and support from witnesses and the community.

“No community, no matter how large or small, ever wants to endure this type of event,” Sheppard said.

“It will be important as we move through this difficult period to keep the residents of Faro and all those persons impacted by these events, in our hearts and minds and to assist them wherever we can.”

He called the situation a tragic one.

“No community, no matter how large or small, ever wants to endure this type of event. It will be important as we move through this difficult period to keep the residents of Faro and all those persons impacted by these events, in our hearts and minds and to assist them wherever we can.”

The premier said a co-ordinated, inter-agency response was underway to make sure critical supports are in place.

Family and children services staff, for instance, are working with education staff at the Del Van Gorder School to provide crisis response supports to students and families, Silver pointed out.

He said victims services personnel and the Mental Wellness and Substance Use Services are providing counselling and immediate assistance to the community.

“Additional social workers, counsellors, mental health nurses, psychologists and peer support workers have been deployed to Faro to support the community, including EMS staff, first responders and community nurses,” Silver said.

“We have been in contact with the Town of Faro to make sure we are providing all the supports the community needs.”

The premier told CHON-FM this morning he had conferred with other premiers during a telephone conference on other matters Thursday and had received condolences from several of them.

“Our thoughts are with the community of Faro as they deal with this horrific situation,” Pelly-Nisutlin MLA Stacey Hassard of the Yukon Party said in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon.

“We thank Yukon RCMP, Yukon EMS, town officials, and other first responders who dealt with and are continuing to investigate the details of what happened.

“Faro is a small and tight-knit town with resilient citizens. I know residents will support each other as we move forward.”

– With a file from The Canadian Press.