At least nine people have died following a mass shooting at a secondary school in Tumbler Ridge, a small community in northeastern British Columbia. The suspected gunman was also found dead at the scene, and dozens more were injured in what authorities describe as one of the most devastating school attacks in Canada in decades.
Victims Found Inside School and Nearby Home
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed that six victims were discovered inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Another person died while being transported to hospital. Officers responding to reports of an active shooter entered the building to locate and stop the threat. During their search, they found multiple victims as well as a man believed to be responsible, who appeared to have died from a self-inflicted injury.
Police later located two additional bodies at a residence in Tumbler Ridge that investigators believe is connected to the incident.
Two people 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 said authorities have identified the suspected shooter but are not releasing the name at this time. Investigators 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 told reporters, adding that the investigation remains ongoing.
Community and Leaders Respond
In response to the violence, both Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and the nearby elementary school were placed under lockdown as a precaution. According to local officials, significant emergency resources, including additional RCMP officers and ambulance crews, were deployed to the area to manage the situation.
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his sorrow over the loss of life, offering condolences to the families and friends of the victims. He said the federal government is working closely with local authorities to ensure the community receives the support it needs during this difficult time. In a message shared publicly, he described the shootings as horrific and spoke of the country’s strength in coming together during moments of crisis.
School shootings are rare in Canada, making the tragedy all the more shocking. Tumbler Ridge, located more than 1,000 kilometres north of Vancouver near the Alberta border, is home to a small population. The secondary school serves approximately 175 students in grades 7 through 12.
