A quiet community in northern British Columbia was left reeling Tuesday after a mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School claimed at least nine lives. The suspected gunman was also found dead, and several others were injured in what is being described as one of the deadliest school shootings in Canada in decades.
Victims Discovered Inside School and Nearby Home
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), officers responding to reports of an active shooter entered the school and discovered multiple victims. Six people were found dead inside the building. Another victim later died while being transported to hospital.
The suspected shooter was located inside the school with what authorities believe to be a self-inflicted injury.
Police also confirmed that two additional victims were found at a residence in Tumbler Ridge believed to be connected to the incident. In total, nine victims have been confirmed dead, not including the suspect.
Two people were airlifted to hospital with serious or life-threatening injuries, while about 25 others were treated at a local medical centre for injuries considered non-life-threatening.
Investigation Underway, Motive Still Unknown
RCMP Superintendent Ken Floyd said investigators have identified the suspected shooter but are not releasing the name at this time. Authorities are still working to determine what may have 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 told reporters.
Police continue to gather evidence as they piece together the events that unfolded in the small town, which sits more than 1,000 kilometres north of Vancouver near the Alberta border.
Community and Leaders Respond
Both Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and Tumbler Ridge Elementary were placed under lockdown as a precaution during the emergency response. Larry Neufeld, the MLA for Peace River South, said an extensive number of resources, including RCMP officers and ambulance crews, were deployed to the area. He declined to provide further operational details, citing safety concerns.
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his condolences, saying he was devastated by the violence and offering support to the families and friends of those who lost loved ones. He added that federal officials are in close contact with provincial counterparts to ensure the community receives the support it needs.
School shootings are uncommon in Canada, making the tragedy particularly shocking. Tumbler Ridge Secondary School serves approximately 175 students in grades 7 through 12, according to the provincial government website.
