The quiet highways of Saskatchewan turned into the scene of heartbreak last week, as a woman lost her life in a mysterious shooting. Her family is now pleading for answers, while police continue their search for clues in a case that has shaken the province.
Police have confirmed that the woman who died was 44-year-old Tanya Myers. Tanya was riding as a passenger in a Ford Explorer when tragedy struck. A bullet pierced the vehicle, fatally injuring her as she travelled toward Weyburn on Highway 39 around 8 p.m. last Friday.
At a press conference, the RCMP read a statement prepared by Tanya’s grieving family. Their words carried a heavy mix of shock, sorrow, and anger.
"We're all in shock and disbelief, and the loss of Tanya leaves a giant, gaping hole in our lives," the statement read. The family also shared that Tanya, a devoted animal lover, rarely left her home because she spent her days caring for her nine cats, all of whom are now left without the woman who nurtured them.
The family directly addressed the unknown shooter in their statement:
"To the person or persons responsible, please grow a conscience and take responsibility for your actions. Tanya deserves justice, and her family deserves answers."
Their words reflected not only their pain but also their determination to see justice served.
In the early days of the investigation, police had suggested the shooting appeared random. But RCMP Superintendent Joshua Graham offered more nuance on Tuesday.
“It’s not necessarily random, although we don’t necessarily think it’s targeted either. It could be. It could be accidental. It could be maybe an overshot of someone shooting at something, maybe an animal, a target,” Graham explained.
This uncertainty has added more questions to a case already filled with mystery.
The case took another turn when police learned that another vehicle was struck along the same stretch of road that night. A driver of an SUV reported hearing what sounded like two loud pops while travelling along Highway 39. At first, the driver thought it was rocks hitting the windshield.
The next day, however, the driver discovered a flat tire. Forensic tests later confirmed the tire had actually been hit by a bullet.
Police said this SUV was travelling close to the Ford Explorer at the time of the shooting and eventually passed it on the road. Importantly, the driver did not know Tanya or the other woman in the Explorer and only realized the significance of their own experience after hearing about the fatal shooting.
The RCMP major crimes unit has appealed for help from the public. They are asking residents and businesses along Highway 39 and Highway 13 to check any security camera footage from Friday evening between 7:45 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
Investigators also urged hunters, target shooters, or anyone in the area that night to come forward with information.
“Whether that is accidental, intentional, whether they knew about it or not, at the end of the day we need to account and find out the truth as to what happened,” Supt. Graham said.
The shooting has left many in the community shaken. Random gunfire on a major highway is rare and deeply troubling. Authorities stressed that whether the act was careless, reckless, or deliberate, it has already caused an irreplaceable loss for Tanya’s loved ones.
Her family now faces the painful reality of moving forward without her. For them, the unanswered questions only deepen their grief.
Tanya’s family has been clear in their plea. They want whoever is responsible to step forward and acknowledge what happened. The RCMP continues to pursue leads, but for now, the family and the wider community are left waiting for answers.
As the investigation continues, one thing remains certain: Tanya’s life was cut short in a senseless act, and her family’s call for justice echoes across Saskatchewan.
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