Tumbler Ridge, B.C. (Rajeev Sharma): — Ten people, including the suspected shooter, are dead following a mass shooting at a high school in western Canada on Tuesday, marking one of the country’s deadliest mass casualty events in recent years.
The attack occurred at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, a remote community of about 2,400 residents in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), six victims were found dead inside the school. Two additional victims were discovered at a nearby residence believed to be connected to the incident, and another person died while being transported to hospital.
At least two individuals remain hospitalized with serious or life-threatening injuries, while up to 25 others are being treated for non-life-threatening wounds. Authorities have not yet confirmed how many of the victims were minors.
Police said the suspected shooter was also found dead at the scene from what appeared to be a self-inflicted injury. Investigators indicated there is no ongoing threat and no additional suspects are being sought. The suspect was described as female—an uncommon detail in North American mass shootings, which are statistically more often carried out by men. Officials have released few additional details about the assailant.
Students described a chaotic and frightening scene. Darian Quist, a 17-year-old student, told CBC News that his class was placed under lockdown for more than two hours beginning around 1:30 p.m. local time. While he did not hear gunfire directly, images shared among students later showed blood in parts of the school.
Parents gathered at a local community centre awaiting news of their children. “It was a situation that you really never want to face again,” said local pastor George Rowe, describing the anguish of families waiting for confirmation about their loved ones. Police said victims’ identities would only be released after absolute confirmation.
British Columbia Premier David Eby called the incident deeply shocking. “It’s the kind of thing that feels like it happens in other places and not close to home,” he said.
Tumbler Ridge Secondary School serves approximately 160 students in grades seven through 12. The school has been closed for the remainder of the week, and counselling services will be provided to students and staff.
Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger noted that the town’s RCMP detachment responded within two minutes of receiving the emergency call, likely preventing further casualties.
Canada has stricter gun control laws than the United States, including licensing requirements for firearm ownership and federal restrictions introduced in recent years on handguns and assault-style weapons. However, some proposed bans on certain rifles and shotguns were dropped following opposition from rural communities.
The tragedy ranks among the deadliest in Canadian history. In April 2020, 22 people were killed in a mass shooting in Nova Scotia. In 1989, a gunman killed 14 women at Montreal’s École Polytechnique before taking his own life.
In response to the shooting, Prime Minister Mark Carney postponed a scheduled announcement in Halifax and delayed his trip to the Munich Security Conference. “I am devastated by today’s horrific shootings in Tumbler Ridge, B.C.,” Carney wrote on social media. “My prayers and deepest condolences are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones.”
Authorities continue to investigate the motive behind the attack.
