Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia – A shooting in the remote northern British Columbia community of Tumbler Ridge has left nine people dead and at least 25 injured, authorities confirmed on Tuesday, . The incident, which unfolded at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and a nearby residence, has plunged the town of 2,700 into mourning.
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), six victims were found deceased inside the school itself. A seventh person died while being transported to hospital. Two further fatalities were discovered at a home believed to be connected to the attack. The sole suspect, identified by investigators as a female, was found dead within the school from what appears to be a self-inflicted injury.
More than 25 individuals sustained injuries during the shooting, with two airlifted to hospital with life-threatening conditions. The status and extent of injuries for the remaining wounded remain unclear at this time.
Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, located over 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) northeast of Vancouver, near the provincial border with Alberta, serves approximately 175 students in Grades 7 to 12, according to provincial government data.
Police responded swiftly to the scene, with British Columbia Premier David Eby stating that officers arrived at the school within two minutes of receiving the initial reports. A video circulating online showed students exiting the school with their hands raised, as police vehicles surrounded the building and a helicopter hovered overhead.
Superintendent Ken Floyd of the RCMP told reporters that investigators have identified the shooter but are withholding her name pending further investigation. The motive behind the attack remains unknown and police are working to establish the connection between the shooter and the victims. “We will struggle to ever determine a motive,” Floyd stated.
The tragedy has deeply affected the close-knit community of Tumbler Ridge. Mayor Darryl Krakowka described the town as a “big family” and expressed his devastation at the loss of life. “I broke down,” he said, adding that he likely knew each of the victims personally, having lived in the town for 18 years.
Reverend George Rowe of the Tumbler Ridge Fellowship Baptist Church, who once taught at the high school and whose three children are alumni, visited the local recreation center where families were gathering to await information. He described a scene of profound grief and anxiety. “It was not a pretty sight. Families are still waiting to hear if it’s their child that’s deceased and because of protocol and procedure, the investigating team is very careful in releasing names,” Rowe said. He added, “To walk through the corridors of that school will never be the same again.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement expressing his devastation and offering condolences to the families and community. “I join Canadians in grieving with those whose lives have been changed irreversibly today, and in gratitude for the courage and selflessness of the first responders who risked their lives to protect their fellow citizens,” he wrote in a social media post. Prime Minister Carney has postponed a planned trip to the Munich Security Conference in light of the tragedy.
This shooting represents Canada’s deadliest rampage since , when a gunman in Nova Scotia killed 13 people and set fires that resulted in nine additional deaths. The incident is likely to reignite debate over gun control measures in Canada, which has already seen the broadening of a ban on assault weapons in response to previous mass shootings.
The remote location of Tumbler Ridge, nestled in the Canadian Rockies, adds another layer to the tragedy. The town’s isolation means that support and resources will take time to arrive, and the community will face a long road to recovery. The impact of this event will undoubtedly be felt across British Columbia and throughout Canada for years to come.
Authorities have not yet released further details regarding the victims or the suspect, and the investigation is ongoing. Updates will be provided as they become available.
