'It seems unreal this could happen in our warm and friendly community:' Granisle mayor

Granisle Mayor Linda McGuire is promising grief counseling for the members of her tiny town but also calling for them to co-operate with RCMP as they continue to investigate how Shirley Williams, 77, and her sonJvanWilliams, 39, became the victims of a police-involved shooting.

• Police-involved shooting kills 2 in northern B.C. village of Granisle
• Shirley Williams, 77, and son Jovan Williams, 39, confirmed as victims in police-involved shooting

RCMPsay they were called to a "neighbour dispute involving a handgun" at about 12:30 p.m. PT April 21. When they arrived, officerssurrounded the home, and tried to make contact with the residents.

Police say one person exited the home and confronted officers, resulting in shots being fired.A second person then exited the home and also confronted police, and shots were fired again.

RCMP say both people died after being attended to by paramedics, who were nearby.

'Cannot fathom'

"To many it seems unreal this could happen in our warm and friendly community where neighbours help each other and many residents cannot fathom how this could have happened," said McGuire in a statement sent to media on Saturday.

"This very unsettling reality for the community, leaves many asking the very simple question, is there something more we could have done to prevent this tragedy?"

McGuire is promising grief counselling for the community to deal with the tragedy but also asks in the release for the community to assist police in theinvestigation into the deaths.

Eight Independent Investigations Office investigators have been dispatched to the northern interior villagewhich is located approximately 150 kilometres east ofSmithers.

Deep and intense emotions

Friends told CBC they believea long-standing and bitter quarrelbetween neighbours may have triggered the incident.

"Our community is facing a very stressful time with emotions both deep and intense," McGuire's release continued. "Whatever your view, we encourage you to be responsible and respectful of each other as citizens and neighbours."

McGuire is also asking media to give privacy to the community to allow it time to "process this very traumatic event."