'I'm sorry for shooting you,' says La Loche killer in emotional courtroom statement

The teen who shot and killed four people and wounded seven others in La Loche, Sask., last January apologized at his own sentencing hearing during an emotionally wrenching momentFriday.

The teen, who can't be identified because he was a youth at the time of his crimes,read out an apology to each of his victims.

The teen's statement stressed that almost all of his victims who were shot at or killed inside the schoolwere "not targets."

• La Loche shooter has no 'moral fibre' to prevent attack: psychiatrist
• La Loche shooter 'wasn't bothered' by victim impact statements: psychologist

In January 2016, the teenagerwalked through a school in the northern Saskatchewan community, firing a shotgun. He shot and killed Adam Wood, 35, and teacher's assistant MarieJanvier, 21. Earlier in the day, he had shot and killed teenage brothersDayneandDraydenFontaineat a home in the community.

Didn't know some school victims

The gunman said he didn'tknow Wood, who was relatively new at the school. He also said he didn't know some of the teens he was shooting at that day.

I am sorry I ruined your life and took your daughter away.- La Loche shooter

Speaking about one teen, whom the shooter considered a friend, he told the court: "I'm sorry I shot at you. I don't know what I was thinking that day. You didn't deserve to get shot."

He also spoke directly to Janvier's mother, who was in the courtroom.

"I am sorry I ruined your life and took your daughter away," he told her.

He also apologized to Phyllis Longobardi and Charlene Klyne, two adult survivors who were both wounded in the shooting.

"You are a good person and didn't deserve to get shot.I am sorry for ruining your life," he said to Longobardi.

"I'm sorry for shooting you while you were sitting in your classroom waiting to teach. You weren't someone who was a target," he said to Klyne.

Neither Klynenor Longobardi was in court.

Addresses Fontaine brothers' mother

The teen becameemotional when talking about Dayne and Drayden Fontaine.

He said that sometimes, while sitting in his cell at KilburnHall Youth Centre in Saskatoon, he imagines the Fontainesbeside him.

He spoke directly to the brothers' mother, Alicia Fontaine, who was in the courtroom.

"I know she forgives me for what I did. I know she knows I am sorry for what I did."

The teen, who was 17 at the time of the shootings, pleaded guilty in October to two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder.

Mayor 'mixed up' about shooter's remorse

Robert St. Pierre, the mayor of La Loche, was asked outside the courtroom ifhe believed the sentiments expressed in the shooter's statement were genuine.

"I believe that he believed so," he said.

"I think that when you listen to the hearing throughout...it's pretty consistentthat he was remorseful of [the Fontaine]brothers but not so with the others. So I'm mixed up."

During the proceedings, Crown attorney Lloyd Stangquestioned aneuropsychologistwho examined the shooter about how genuine the teenwas in his remorse.

The shooter's defence attorney, Aaron Fox, said afterwards he objected to that.

"Everybody will have to judge it based on who saw it but in my view it's a sincere effort by him to speak publicly about something in which he is very sorry, struggling still todeal with himself."

Aunt of killer testifies

On Thursday, the shooter's auntsaidher family has forgivenhim, saying he'sa changed person now.

"If he was a different person, if he was a violent person, if he was involved in the justice system [before the shootings], I don't think we would have forgave that easily," she said.

"It was almost like something went wrong in his world that caused all of this," said the aunt.

She said his composure in the weeks leading to the killing spree was no different than normal.

"He was the same quiet boy. There was nothing out of the ordinary," she said.

Family bullied him: aunt

The teen had been the victim of bullying within the family, she said. But while he got frustrated and would "mumble" under his breath, he never got violent, preferring to go for walks to cool down, she said.

He spent much time in his room, playing video games likeGrand Theft AutoandCall of Duty.

At Kilburn Hall, the teen is much more affectionate than in the past, giving hugs when family visit him in jail, she said.

"He probably never gave a hug before," she said.

Gladue report ordered

The aunt was the third witness called by the teen's attorney, Aaron Fox, who is trying to get himsentenced as a youth and not an adult.

• La Loche shooter's Indigenous background to be factored into sentence

Her testimony came a day after Fox successfully petitioned the judge to order a Gladue report as part of the hearing.

That report reserved for Indigenous offenders will outline the factors that may have contributed to the shooter's actions and will outline potential alternatives to jail time.

During her testimony, the aunt hinted at some strife within the family.

She said the shooter's adoptive mother who is not fluent in English and primarily speaks the Denelanguage may not have taken hisschool reports "seriously."

Arguments about school

The aunt also said the shooter lacked a father, and that police had been called to his house because of one of his adoptive mother's boyfriends.

The teen and his adoptive mother got in arguments about going to school, she said, with the mother forcing him to attend.

In videotaped comments shared in the courtroom last month, the shooter denied having been bullied at school but said he had been "hated" there.

This phase of the sentencing hearing is expected to wrap up Friday. Lawyers still need to make their final arguments to the judge on Aug. 25.

The judge said the actual sentencing will take place in La Loche, as opposed to Meadow Lake, where the sentencing hearing is taking place.