British Columbia (Rajeev Sharma): Canada was shaken on Tuesday after a deadly shooting unfolded at a secondary school in the northeastern part of British Columbia, claiming the lives of eight people, including the alleged attacker. Authorities later confirmed that two more individuals were found dead at a residence believed to have a connection to the incident, deepening concerns over the scale of the tragedy.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said the violence erupted at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, a small institution serving students from Grades 7 to 12. More than 25 people were injured during the attack, with at least two in critical condition. Another victim died while being transported to hospital despite emergency medical efforts.
Tumbler Ridge is a sparsely populated town of roughly 2,400 residents, located more than 1,000 kilometres from Vancouver and close to the Alberta border. Given the town’s size, the incident has had a profound impact on the close-knit community.
RCMP Superintendent Ken Floyd confirmed that the suspect has been identified but said the name would not be released at this stage. He noted that investigators are still working to establish a motive and to understand the relationship between the shooter and the victims. “We are still in the early stages of determining what led to this devastating event,” he said.
Police stated that responding officers entered the school shortly after receiving reports of an active shooter. During a systematic search of the premises, multiple victims were located. The suspect was found dead inside the school, with indications pointing to a self-inflicted injury. Six other people were confirmed dead at the school site.
As a precaution, both Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and the nearby elementary school were placed under a lockdown and “secure and hold” protocol. Emergency services, including additional RCMP units and ambulance support, were rushed to the town. Peace River South MLA Larry Neufeld said an extensive deployment of resources was necessary to ensure public safety and manage the evolving situation, adding that certain details were being withheld to avoid compromising ongoing operations.
