At least nine people have died following a school shooting in the small town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. The suspected shooter was also found dead, and several others sustained injuries in one of the deadliest school attacks in Canada in decades.
Multiple Victims Found at School and Nearby Home
Authorities reported six victims were discovered inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, with another person dying while being transported to the hospital. The suspected gunman was also found deceased at the scene, apparently from a self-inflicted injury.
Police later confirmed that two more victims were found at a nearby residence connected to the incident. About 25 others were treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a local medical centre.
RCMP Superintendent Ken Floyd said investigators know the identity of the shooter but are withholding the name. The motive behind the attack remains unclear, and authorities are still examining how the victims were connected to the suspect.
Schools Lock Down as Emergency Response Deployed
Both Tumbler Ridge Secondary and the local elementary school were placed on lockdown as a precaution. An “excess” of resources, including RCMP and ambulance support, was deployed to the area, officials said, though many details were kept private to maintain the safety of the ongoing operation.
Tumbler Ridge is a remote town more than 1,000 kilometres north of Vancouver, near the Alberta border. The secondary school serves roughly 175 students in grades 7 through 12. School shootings are extremely rare in Canada, making the incident particularly shocking.
National Leaders Extend Support and Condolences
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his devastation over the tragedy, offering condolences to the families and friends of the victims. He assured that the government is coordinating closely with local officials to provide support to the community.
“Our ability to come together in crisis is the best of our country — our empathy, our unity, and our compassion for each other,” Carney wrote, highlighting the strength of Canadian communities in the face of tragedy.
