At least nine people have died following a shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in northern British Columbia. The suspected gunman was also found dead, and several others were injured in what authorities are calling one of the deadliest school shootings in Canada in decades.
Victims Discovered Inside School and Nearby Home
Police said six victims were found inside the secondary school. Another person died while being transported to hospital. Two more individuals were discovered dead at a residence in Tumbler Ridge believed to be connected to the incident.
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), officers entered the school shortly after reports of an active shooter. During their search, they located multiple victims and found the suspected shooter deceased with what appeared to be a self-inflicted injury.
Two victims were airlifted to hospital with serious or life-threatening injuries. Around 25 others were treated at a local medical centre for injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Motive Remains Unknown
RCMP Superintendent Ken Floyd confirmed that investigators know the identity of the shooter but have not released a name. Authorities are still working to determine what led to the attack and how the victims were connected to the suspect.
“We are not in a place to understand why or what may have motivated this tragedy,” Floyd said, adding that the investigation is ongoing.
Community and Nation Respond
Both Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and Tumbler Ridge Elementary were placed under lockdown as a precaution. Larry Neufeld, the MLA for Peace River South, said an extensive emergency response was deployed, including RCMP officers and ambulance services, though few operational details were shared to protect public safety.
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his condolences to the families of the victims, saying he was devastated by the violence. He said the federal government is in close contact with provincial and local officials to ensure the community receives support.
Tumbler Ridge, a small town located more than 1,000 kilometres north of Vancouver near the Alberta border, is home to about 175 students at its secondary school, which serves grades 7 through 12.
School shootings are rare in Canada, making the tragedy all the more shocking for the tight-knit community.
