People in the small northern B.C. community of Granisle say they are stunned by the deaths of a mother and her adult son who were shot by police Thursday, apparently after a dispute among neighbours.

Authorities have not released any details about the victims, but they have been identified by the woman’s daughter, Shonte Williams, as 77-year-old Shirley Williams and her 39-year-old son, Jovan Williams.

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“I loved them both so much,” said Williams, who described her mother as a strong union activist who fought for equality for women and people of all races. Shirley Williams was “very straightforward and honest,” she said, adding that she was hardworking, and loved animals and gardening.

The family is desperate for answers about why they were shot, but Shonte Williams said police haven’t told her anything.

About 12:30 p.m., police were informed of the dispute between the neighbours, which involved a handgun, said RCMP E Division Staff Sgt. Rob Vermeulen. They arrived at 1:22 p.m. and established a perimeter around a house.

Police tried to contact the residents, Vermeulen said. Instead, one person left the building and confronted police. Shots were fired about 2:50 p.m. A second person left the residence, confronted police and more shots were fired.

Both people were treated by paramedics, but later died. No police officers were injured.

Village resident Betty Foster said Shirley Williams was often in town, but her son was very withdrawn. She said the village of Granisle, a community of about 300, 98 kilometres northwest of Burns Lake, is in shock.

“Everybody is just kind of stunned,” she said.

Anne and Peter Williams, who live about six kilometres away from the shooting scene, and are not related to them, said Shirley Williams used to accompany them to church. They said she was a kind and lovely woman, who had become very frail and withdrawn in the last few years.

She had stopped going to church but had called the couple on several occasions to complain the neighbours were vandalizing her house. The couple could not verify that is what happened, and were concerned that Shirley was in a vulnerable state because of health problems.

Jovan, who lived with his mother and kept to himself, said he had recently been beaten with a bat during one of the arguments with the neighbours, according to Peter Williams. He said “Joe” had several prominent bruises on his face and became much more reclusive after the incident.

Williams didn’t know what the dispute was about, but said hostility between the neighbours had escalated over three or four years.

Shonte Williams said her mother was upset about vandalism and had complained to the police but was ignored. Vermeulen said he could not verify that information, citing the investigation by the Independent Investigations Office of B.C.

She also said she was told the neighbour hit her brother with a bat , causing major bruising, but that the alleged assault never went through the court system.

“It’s very sad,” said Anne Williams, who saw her friend Shirley on Monday and said she appeared to be very happy. “I don’t know what happened. The whole situation just doesn’t make sense.”

Granisle Mayor Linda McGuire said the community is “understandably upset.” She refused to discuss any details of what happened, citing the ongoing investigation.

For six years, Shirley Williams served as an elected officer for the United Steelworkers Union Local 1-424.

President Frank Everett said local members were shocked and saddened to hear that one of their union activists, a former Canfor employee, had died.

Everett described Shirley Williams as a very conscientious person, a strong advocate for the union, and someone who wasn’t scared to speak her mind.

“A lot of people here knew Shirley, and we’re all just looking for answers,” said Everett.

Marten Youssef, a spokesman for the Independent Investigations Office of B.C., said no details about the victims would be released by the office. The B.C. Coroners Service did not return a request for information.

Youssef said eight Independent Investigations Office of B.C. investigators were en route to the scene on Friday.