User blog comment:Godisme/BEFORE THE SHADOWS/@comment-443399-20120822171730/@comment-893506-20120822172127

Yeah, a massacre isn't just limited to the most notable members of an organization. Akon already stated that over one thousand Shinigami have been killed, which is much more of a massacre than just a small number of high- ranking officers. And the Stern Ritter only killed Byakuya and Sasakibe. Izuru is severely wounded, yes, but he hasn't been confirmed dead by anyone in-story yet.