A British Columbia man has been sentenced to seven years in prison for recklessly firing a handgun at a crowded beach during Canada Day celebrations in Osoyoos, an incident that left one person injured and sent families fleeing in terror.
Steven Marlo Gallagher, a 32-year-old father of four, was convicted on multiple firearm-related charges for the July 1, 2022 shooting, which disrupted holiday festivities and endangered the lives of beachgoers.
Altercation Escalates to Gunfire
According to court testimony, Gallagher initiated a confrontation with William Krystik and his group by kicking sand at them while they were on the beach.
Despite being asked to stop by two of Krystik’s friends, Gallagher ignored their requests. He then escalated the situation by approaching the group and instigating a physical fight with Krystik and another man.
As more individuals became involved in the altercation, Gallagher suddenly pulled out a loaded handgun from his shorts and began firing indiscriminately, shooting both into the air and into the sand where Krystik and others were still struggling.
“The sound of gunfire sent crowds of beachgoers into a panic, as people ran for their lives,” wrote Justice Shelley Fitzpatrick of the B.C. Supreme Court in her ruling on March 7.
Panic and Injury Amid the Chaos
Gallagher and his friends quickly fled the scene in a vehicle. Meanwhile, Krystik’s companions discovered he had been shot in the hip and was bleeding profusely.
Paramedics arrived and transported Krystik to the hospital, where he received treatment and eventually recovered. However, the emotional toll of the shooting extended far beyond his physical injury.
Victim impact statements submitted to the court detailed severe emotional distress among witnesses and survivors. One young woman described how her life remains consumed by fear, anxiety, and stress, which she now manages through therapy and medication.
“The trauma from that night still lingers within the community,” the judge wrote, noting that the incident received significant media coverage and left many locals shaken.
Gallagher’s History of Gun Crimes
At the time of the Canada Day shooting, Gallagher already had a lengthy criminal record, including multiple firearm-related convictions.
Additionally, he was awaiting trial for a break-in and arson at a pharmacy in Oliver in May 2021. He was later convicted for that crime and sentenced to three years and nine months in prison.
Judge: ‘Blind Luck’ That No One Was Killed
The court condemned Gallagher’s actions as extraordinarily reckless, emphasizing that his decision to bring a loaded firearm to a crowded public space, initiate a fight, and then open fire was beyond irresponsible.
“The only reason Mr. Krystik survived with non-life-threatening injuries was sheer luck. The fact that no one else was shot or killed that night was also purely by chance,” the judge stated.
Gallagher was sentenced to a total of seven years in prison, which includes:
- Six and a half years for aggravated assault
- Four years for pointing a firearm
- Seven years for reckless discharge of a firearm (sentences to run concurrently)
However, his prison term for the Canada Day shooting will not begin until he finishes serving his previous three-year, nine-month sentence for the 2021 pharmacy break-in and arson.
