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Twenty Years After the Dawson College Shooting: James Santos’s Journey from Survivor to Police Officer
By Drooid · · How we work
The 2006 Dawson College Shooting
In 2006 a gunman entered Dawson College in Montreal, opening fire in the cafeteria. One student, 18-year-old Anastasia De Sousa, was killed and 19 others were wounded. The attack left lasting trauma for many survivors, including James Santos, who was 17 at the time.
Santos’s Experience on the Day
Santos was having lunch with De Sousa when the shooter arrived. He recalled that the shooter walked in while the cafeteria was packed. After the gunman began firing, Santos dove behind chairs while De Sousa turned toward the shooter and was hit. Santos later tried to drag her to cover and spoke to the gunman, hoping to protect her. Santos later shouted at the gunman to leave another student alone; the shooter laughed before police shot him in the leg and he subsequently took his own life. Santos estimated the ordeal lasted about a dozen minutes.
Path from Survivor to Police Officer
The shooting motivated Santos to pursue a career in law enforcement. He endured vivid nightmares, panic attacks, and survivor’s guilt, which he addressed through therapy and gradual exposure to firearms in movies. After a decade of military service, he entered the police academy, spent a year serving outside Montreal, and joined the Montreal police force in 2018. Santos says the training helped him manage anxiety triggered by the smell of gunpowder, allowing him to respond to calls without being overwhelmed.
Official Recognitions and Calls for Reform
In 2008, Governor General Michaëlle Jean awarded Santos the Star of Courage for his actions during the attack. At the same ceremony, De Sousa’s mother, Louise De Sousa, urged the federal government to tighten gun-control laws.
Verbatim Quotes
- “She turned around facing the shooter and basically one of the first shots was directed to my friend,” — Santos. Thinking De Sousa
- “He didn't say anything — he just loaded his magazine into a semi automatic and walked over to her, he unloaded all his 12 rounds on her, and then he came back and he told me, ‘Well, now you have nothing to worry about,’” — Santos. Santos
These firsthand accounts and official recognitions illustrate how a tragic event shaped Santos’s personal recovery and his commitment to public safety, while also highlighting ongoing debates over gun legislation in Canada.