Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia – A mass shooting in the remote British Columbia community of Tumbler Ridge has left ten people dead, including the female perpetrator and twenty-seven others injured, authorities confirmed on . The attacks unfolded at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and a nearby residence, sending shockwaves through the small town and prompting a large-scale police response.
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), six people were found dead at the school, while a seventh died en route to hospital. Two additional fatalities were discovered at a residence believed to be connected to the shooting. More than 25 individuals sustained injuries, with two airlifted to hospitals with life-threatening conditions. The suspect died from a self-inflicted injury at the school.
The incident began at approximately at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, a public school serving students in grades 7 through 12. An emergency alert was issued by the RCMP around , urging residents to shelter in place. Schools in the surrounding area were placed on lockdown. The alert was lifted at .
Tumbler Ridge, a town of approximately 2,400 people located more than 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) north of Vancouver in the Canadian Rockies, is grappling with the aftermath of the tragedy. The school, according to provincial government data, has a student population of 175.
“I broke down,” said Mayor Darryl Krakowka, reflecting the community’s grief. “It was devastating to learn how many had died in our community. I probably know every one of the victims.”
The RCMP has identified a female suspect but has not released her name, citing the ongoing investigation. Superintendent Ken Floyd stated that the motive for the shooting remains unclear and that investigators are working to determine the relationships between the victims and the perpetrator.
The speed of the police response was highlighted by British Columbia Premier David Eby, who stated that officers arrived at the school within two minutes of receiving the initial report. However, the scale of the tragedy has prompted questions about security measures and access to firearms in Canada.
Canada has stricter gun control laws than the United States, but mass shootings, while rare, are not unprecedented. This incident marks the deadliest school shooting in Canada since the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal. The government has previously responded to such events by broadening bans on certain types of firearms.
The Rev. George Rowe of the Tumbler Ridge Fellowship Baptist Church described the scene at the local recreation center, where families were awaiting information about their loved ones. “It was not a pretty sight,” he said. “Families are still waiting to hear if it’s their child that’s deceased… It is so difficult.” Rowe, a former teacher at the high school, expressed the profound impact the shooting will have on the community.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his devastation in a social media post, extending condolences to those affected and acknowledging the bravery of first responders. Carney has suspended a planned trip to Halifax and Munich in light of the tragedy.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are expected to release further details as they become available. The community of Tumbler Ridge is now focused on supporting the victims, their families, and the wider population as they begin to process this unimaginable loss.
