Ten people, including the suspected gunman, are dead and at least 25 others injured after a mass shooting in the small community of Tumbler Ridge, B.C., in what is among the deadliest school shootings in Canadian history.
RCMP say six people were found dead inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School on Tuesday. A seventh victim died while being transported to hospital. Two more people were later discovered dead in a nearby home that investigators believe is connected to the school attack.
The only suspect was found dead inside the school from what police described as a self‑inflicted injury, bringing the total number of dead to 10.
Police said they believe they have identified the shooter but have not released any details about who they were. Investigators also have yet to name any of the victims or provide their ages, citing privacy laws and the need to confirm identities and notify families first, as is standard practice in British Columbia.
At about 1:20 p.m. local time on Tuesday, an emergency alert was issued to residents of Tumbler Ridge and the surrounding area warning of an active shooter in the community. Schools, homes and businesses were locked down for hours until the alert was lifted at 5:45 p.m.
B.C. Emergency Health Services said at least 25 people were injured, but officials have not released information about their conditions or where they are being treated. Paramedics airlifted two patients to hospital: one in critical condition and one in serious but stable condition. Other people were treated at the scene and did not require transport to hospital, the agency said.
RCMP officers said they may “struggle” to ever determine a clear motive for the attack.
Tuesday’s shooting is the first school attack in Canada since 2016, when four people were killed at La Loche high school in Saskatchewan, and joins a short but painful list of incidents at Canadian schools and campuses stretching back decades.
Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement offering support to the families of victims and to first responders, and announced he has postponed a planned trip to the Munich Security Conference. All flags on federal government buildings across the country will be flown at half‑mast.
Provincial and international leaders, including King Charles, have expressed solidarity with Canadians and with the Tumbler Ridge community as it reels from the tragedy.
