A tragic shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia on Tuesday has left at least nine people dead, including the suspected shooter, and several others injured. Authorities say this is one of Canada’s deadliest school attacks in decades.
Horror at the School and Nearby Home
Police reported six victims inside the school, with another person dying en route to hospital. The suspected gunman was also found dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted injury.
Two more victims were discovered at a residence in Tumbler Ridge linked to the shooting. About 25 others were treated at a local medical centre for non-life-threatening injuries. RCMP Superintendent Ken Floyd confirmed the shooter’s identity is known but has not been released, and the motive remains unclear.
“We are not in a place to understand why or what may have motivated this tragedy,” Floyd said, adding investigators are examining how the victims were connected to the shooter.
Schools Locked Down as Emergency Response Expands
Both Tumbler Ridge Secondary and the local elementary school were placed on lockdown following the shooting. Authorities deployed significant RCMP and ambulance support to the town, though officials have withheld further details to protect the ongoing investigation.
Tumbler Ridge is a remote community more than 1,000 kilometres north of Vancouver, near the Alberta border. The secondary school has roughly 175 students in grades 7 through 12.
Leaders Offer Condolences and Support
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed deep sorrow for the victims’ families, promising federal support for the community. “I am devastated by today’s horrific shootings in Tumbler Ridge, BC. My prayers and deepest condolences are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones to these horrific acts of violence,” he wrote.
Carney highlighted the strength of Canadians coming together in times of crisis, emphasizing unity, empathy, and compassion as key in responding to tragedy.
School shootings are rare in Canada, making this incident particularly devastating for the small town and the country as a whole.
