At least nine people have died following a shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia, with the suspected gunman also dead and several others injured. Authorities described the incident as one of the deadliest school attacks in Canada in decades.
Tragedy at the School and Nearby Home
Six victims were found inside the school, and another died while being transported to hospital, the RCMP said. The suspected shooter was discovered at the scene with what appeared to be a self-inflicted injury.
Police later confirmed two more deaths at a residence in Tumbler Ridge, believed to be linked to the incident. About 25 other people were treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a local medical centre. RCMP Superintendent Ken Floyd said the shooter’s identity is known, but authorities have not released it, and the motive remains unclear.
“We are not in a place to understand why or what may have motivated this tragedy,” Floyd said, adding that investigators are still working to determine how the victims were connected to the suspect.
Schools Locked Down and Emergency Response
Both the secondary school and Tumbler Ridge Elementary School were placed on lockdown following the shooting. Large numbers of RCMP officers and ambulance crews were deployed to the community, though officials withheld further details to protect the ongoing investigation.
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.
National Leaders Express Condolences
Prime Minister Mark Carney offered his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and pledged government 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,” he said in a statement.
Carney emphasized the strength of Canadians in coming together during crises, highlighting unity, empathy, and compassion as the nation’s guiding principles in the wake of tragedy.
School shootings remain rare in Canada, making this event particularly shocking for both Tumbler Ridge and the country as a whole.
