Victims Discovered Inside School and Nearby Home
A quiet community in northern British Columbia was shaken Tuesday after a deadly shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School left at least nine people dead. Authorities confirmed that six victims were found inside the school building, while another died on the way to hospital. The suspected gunman was also discovered at the scene with what police described as a self-inflicted injury.
Police later located two additional victims at a residence in Tumbler Ridge believed to be connected to the attack. In total, nine people lost their lives in one of the deadliest school shootings Canada has seen in decades.
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, officers entered the school during the initial emergency response to locate and neutralize the threat. During their search, they encountered multiple victims and found the suspected shooter deceased.
Six other individuals suffered serious or life-threatening injuries, with two airlifted to hospital for urgent treatment. Approximately 25 more people were treated at a local medical centre for injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Motive Remains Unknown as Investigation Continues
RCMP Superintendent Ken Floyd said investigators have identified the suspect but are withholding the name at this time. Authorities have not yet determined what motivated the attack.
“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 shooter.
Law enforcement continues to examine evidence and piece together a timeline of events. Officials have also declined to share further operational details, citing concerns about the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
Community in Shock as Schools Lock Down
In the immediate aftermath, both Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and Tumbler Ridge Elementary were placed under lockdown measures described as “secure and hold.” Emergency services, including RCMP units and ambulances, were heavily deployed throughout the town.
Peace River South MLA Larry Neufeld said an “excess” of emergency resources were brought into the community to ensure safety and manage the crisis.
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed sorrow over the tragedy, offering condolences to the families and friends of the victims. He said the federal government is in close contact with provincial officials to ensure the community receives full support.
Tumbler Ridge, a small town located more than 1,000 kilometres north of Vancouver near the Alberta border, is home to about 175 students at its secondary school, serving grades 7 through 12. School shootings remain rare in Canada, making the scale of this incident particularly devastating for the tight-knit community.
