Mass Murder 🇨🇦

NOTE: Mass killings are defined as 4+ victim deaths.

Shaw in Faro in 2021

Date Name City Province Licensed Victims Deaths Injuries Suicide Firearms OIC Impact
2021 Shaw Faro YT 2 2 1 No Yes

Used

Firearm

Warnings

Domestic violence, RCMP Failure

AI Synthesis

Generated summary

Classification:
corroborated

Incident Summary:
A mass shooting occurred in Faro, Yukon, in 2021, resulting in two fatalities and one critical injury. Ralph Bernard Shaw was identified as the perpetrator and was subsequently sentenced to life in prison with no parole eligibility for 25 years. Shaw died in custody in 2026 while serving his sentence.

Well-Supported Details:

  • Victims and Injuries: Two people were killed and one person was critically injured. The victims were identified as Saengduean Honchaiyaphum (Shaw's estranged wife) and Patrick McCracken (a 73-year-old town councilor).
  • Perpetrator: Ralph Bernard Shaw was the perpetrator. He used a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun and a .300-caliber Remington rifle.
  • Timeline and Location: The shooting occurred on October 26, 2021, in Faro, Yukon. The RCMP were alerted by residents hearing gunfire and confirmed the incident through door-to-door visits.
  • Legal Proceedings: Shaw pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and second-degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years. The sentences were served concurrently.
  • Perpetrator Death: Shaw died in custody at the Pacific Institution in Abbotsford, British Columbia, on June 24, 2026.

Unverified or Conflicting Claims:

  • Shaw's Plea: Source 1 states Shaw has not yet entered any pleas, while Source 3 states he pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and aggravated assault. Source 5 confirms Shaw pleaded guilty to transferring a restricted firearm.
  • Shaw's Sentence: Source 1 mentions a trial has begun and he has not entered pleas, while Sources 3, 4, 7, and 11 confirm he was sentenced to life in prison with no parole eligibility for 25 years.
  • Shaw's Identity: Source 10 and 11 refer to Shaw as 65 years old, while other sources do not specify his age. Source 10 mentions he was serving a life sentence for a 1984 murder, which is not corroborated by other sources.

Source Quality Notes:

  • Credible Sources: Sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9 are from CBC News, a reputable Canadian news organization. Source 9 is Wikipedia, which is generally considered a secondary source but corroborates details found in the CBC articles.
  • Other Sources: Sources 7, 10, and 11 are from other news outlets (Yukon News, CFJC Today, Vernon Morning Star). Source 10 and 11 contain conflicting information regarding Shaw's age and prior convictions. Source 7 provides limited detail on the sentencing.
Status: Corroborated across multiple credible sources. Credible: 8, Social: 0, Other: 3.

News Stories

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Faro,_Yukon_shootings

On October 26, 2021, a mass shooting occurred in Faro, Yukon, Canada.
Two people, 73-year-old town councilor Patrick McCracken and Ralph Shaw's 42-year-old estranged wife, Saenduean Honchaiyaphum, were killed.
One man was critically injured.
The perpetrator, Ralph Bernard Shaw, used a .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun and a .300-caliber Remington rifle.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were first alerted to the incident after residents heard gunfire and later confirmed the deaths and injuries through door-to-door visits.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/faro-shooting-victims-memorial-anniversary-1.6630583

It's been one year since a gunman on a rampage through Faro, Yukon, killed two people and injured another. The community is holding a memorial to remember the victims, Saengduean Honchaiyaphum and Patrick McCracken. The accused killer, Ralph Shaw, is still awaiting trial for murder and attempted murder. The town of Faro, with a population of fewer than 500 people, was deeply shaken by the incident, and some residents are still dealing with lasting trauma.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/mcgivern-faro-pistol-sale-sentenced-1.7192031

Rory Patrick McGivern, 58, was sentenced to 8 months in prison for transferring a restricted firearm without lawful authority. He pleaded guilty in March to one count of transferring a restricted firearm without lawful authority. McGivern will spend 4 months on house arrest and the remaining 4 months subject to a curfew.

https://www.yukon-news.com/news/ralph-shaw-sentenced-to-life-in-prison-for-2021-faro-murders-7636820

Ralph Shaw was sentenced to life in prison for the 2021 Faro murders. The exact details of the sentencing are not specified in the provided source. Shaw was convicted of the murders, but the source does not provide information on the number of victims or the circumstances of the crime.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/faro-yukon-shooter-sentenced-1.7376948

Ralph Bernard Shaw was sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 25 years for his role in a deadly shooting rampage in Faro, Yukon. Shaw pleaded guilty to first-degree murder for killing his estranged wife, Saengduean Honchaiyaphum, and second-degree murder for killing 73-year-old Patrick McCracken. The sentences will be served concurrently, with the first-degree murder sentence taking precedence.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/faro-shooting-victim-impact-sentencing-submissions-1.7376263

Twenty-one victim impact statements and one community impact statement were filed as part of the sentencing hearing for Ralph Shaw, who pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and aggravated assault in connection with a shooting rampage in Faro, Yukon, in 2021. Shaw's victims included Saengduean Honchaiyaphum and Patrick McCracken, who were killed in the rampage. The statements outlined the terror of watching the shootings unfold, hiding from gunfire, responding to frantic calls for help, trying to help the wounded, and the lasting impact on Faro. Shaw's sentence for first-degree murder is undisputed, with an automatic life sentence and no chance of parole for 25 years. However, the Crown and defence disagreed on the sentences for second-degree murder and aggravated assault.

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6556960

Tears and quiet sobbing filled a Yukon courtroom on November 6, 2024, as friends and family remembered two people killed in a shooting in Faro. Saengduean Honchaiyaphum and Patrick McCracken were murdered by Ralph Shaw three years ago.

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6549884

Ralph Bernard Shaw, a man from Faro in the Yukon, has admitted to killing two people and shooting at four others in a shooting that occurred three years ago. The trial for Shaw has begun, but he has not yet entered any pleas.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/faro-shooting-ralph-shaw-trial-begins-1.7366279

Ralph Bernard Shaw's lawyer filed an admissions-of-fact document to the Yukon Supreme Court, admitting to fatally shooting two people, including Shaw's estranged wife, and firing at four others. Shaw faces ten charges, including two counts of first-degree murder, four counts of attempted murder, and three counts of discharging a firearm with intent to wound. The trial is scheduled to continue on November 4.

https://cfjctoday.com/2026/06/25/yukon-man-who-killed-wife-and-acquaintance-dies-in-b-c-prison

Correctional Service Canada reports that Ralph Bernard Shaw, 65, died in custody at the Pacific Institution in Abbotsford, B.C. Shaw was serving a life sentence for the 1984 murders of his ex-wife and an acquaintance in the Yukon. Court documents indicate he shot his ex-wife in Faro and subsequently killed an acquaintance a few kilometers away.

https://vernonmorningstar.com/2026/06/25/man-serving-time-for-double-murder-in-yukon-dies-in-abbotsford

Ralph Bernard Shaw, 65, died in custody at Pacific Institution in Abbotsford on June 24, 2026. Shaw was serving a life sentence for the 2021 first-degree murder of his estranged wife and second-degree murder of Patrick McCracken in Faro, Yukon. The Correctional Service of Canada has not released the cause of Shaw's death.