Nine people have been killed and at least 25 others injured in a mass shooting at a secondary school and nearby residence in the remote community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, in one of the deadliest gun attacks in Canada’s history.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said officers received reports of an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School at around 13:20 local time on Tuesday. Police quickly deployed to the scene and issued an urgent shelter-in-place order for residents, instructing them to lock their doors and remain indoors.
A “hold and secure” lockdown was implemented at both the secondary school and the neighbouring elementary school.
British Columbia’s Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Nina Krieger, said officers arrived within two minutes of receiving the call, adding that the rapid response “no doubt” prevented further loss of life.
According to the RCMP, six victims were found dead inside the school. Two others were airlifted to hospital with serious or life-threatening injuries, while a third died while being transported for treatment. Approximately 25 people were assessed for non-life-threatening injuries at a local medical centre.
Investigators later discovered two additional victims at a nearby residence believed to be connected to the attack. Police are continuing to search surrounding homes and properties as part of the ongoing investigation.
The suspect was found dead inside the school with what authorities described as a self-inflicted injury. Police have identified the individual but have not released the name or gender. An earlier alert described the suspect as a “female in a dress with brown hair.” Officials are still working to determine a motive and whether the suspect had any connection to the school.
Students described tense moments during the lockdown. Grade 12 learner Darian Quist told CBC that an alarm sounded shortly after classes began, instructing them to secure their classroom.
“We got tables and barricaded the doors,” he said, adding that students remained inside for more than two hours until police escorted them out. He later reunited with his mother at a nearby community centre.
The tragedy has shaken the small, close-knit town of about 2,400 residents, where the secondary school serves roughly 160 students from Grades 7 to 12.
Mayor Darryl Krakowka said the impact would be deeply personal for many residents. “I will know every victim. We’re a small community — they’re not just residents, they’re family,” he said.
Town councillor Chris Norbury echoed those sentiments, describing Tumbler Ridge as a place where crime is rare and doors are often left unlocked.
British Columbia Premier David Eby called the incident “a devastating and unimaginable tragedy,” while Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was “devastated” by the violence and suspended a planned international trip in response.
Tumbler Ridge, located about 670 kilometres northeast of Vancouver, is known for its coal mining industry and natural attractions. The community now faces the difficult task of mourning and rebuilding in the wake of a tragedy that has stunned the nation.