Ten people, including the suspected shooter, were killed in a mass shooting at a high school in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, on Tuesday.
The tragic incident has shocked the small community and ranks among the deadliest in recent Canadian history.
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), six people were found dead inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, two more at a residence linked to the incident, and another person died en route to the hospital.
At least two individuals sustained life-threatening injuries, and around 25 others were treated for non-life-threatening wounds. Authorities confirmed there are no additional suspects and no ongoing threat to the public.
Description of suspected shooter
Police described the assailant as a female wearing a dress with brown hair, an unusual development as most mass shootings in North America are carried out by men. The shooter was found dead at the scene from an apparent self-inflicted injury.
Police Superintendent Ken Floyd confirmed that the individual described in the active shooter alert was the same person found dead at the school. No information has been released about the ages of the victims.
Impact on community
Tumbler Ridge, a remote town of roughly 2,400 residents in northern British Columbia, is known for its tight-knit community. The school, which serves around 160 students in grades seven through 12, was closed for the rest of the week. Counseling services will be provided to students and staff affected by the tragedy.
“This is a small, tight-knit community with a small RCMP detachment, who responded in two minutes, no doubt saving lives today,” said Nina Krieger, British Columbia’s public safety minister.
This shooting is among the deadliest in Canada’s recent history. Previous major incidents include the April 2020 Nova Scotia rampage, where 22 people were killed over 13 hours, and the 1989 Ecole Polytechnique massacre in Montreal, which claimed 14 female students’ lives.
Reactions from officials
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his devastation over the incident, offering condolences to the families affected. He postponed a planned announcement on the Defence Industrial Strategy and an international trip in response.
“I am devastated by today’s horrific shootings in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. My prayers and deepest condolences are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones to these horrific acts of violence,” Carney said on X.
British Columbia Premier David Eby added, “It's the kind of thing that feels like it happens in other places and not close to home.”
