NAIROBI, Kenya- Canada is reeling after a deadly shooting at a high school in the small township of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, left 10 people dead in what police are calling a rapidly unfolding tragedy.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed Tuesday that six people were found dead inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. A seventh victim died while being transported to hospital.
Two additional bodies were discovered at a nearby home that investigators believe is connected to the attack.
An individual believed to be the shooter was also found dead, with what authorities described as an apparent self-inflicted injury.
What Happened Inside the School
The RCMP said officers responded to reports of an “active shooter” at the school.
By the time the scene was secured, multiple victims had been located inside the building.
Two people were airlifted to hospital with serious or life-threatening injuries. Around 25 others were assessed and triaged at a local medical centre for injuries described as non-life-threatening.
All remaining students and staff were safely evacuated.
Police have not released the ages of the victims or details about the weapon used, citing privacy concerns and the ongoing investigation by the RCMP’s Major Crimes Unit.
Canadian media reports have suggested the attacker was female, but authorities declined to confirm the suspect’s identity during a news conference.
A Small Community Shaken
Tumbler Ridge sits in the foothills of the British Columbia Rocky Mountains, more than 1,100km north of Vancouver. The township has a population of fewer than 3,000 people.
In a place that small, everyone knows someone.
RCMP Northern District Commander Ken Floyd said investigators are still trying to determine what may have motivated the attack.
“We are not in a place now to be able to understand why and what may have motivated this tragedy,” Floyd said.
He described the situation as “rapidly evolving and dynamic,” adding that cooperation from school officials, first responders, and the community played a critical role in managing the crisis.
Officers are continuing to search other homes and properties in the area to determine whether additional locations are linked to the incident.
National Leaders Respond
British Columbia Premier David Eby called the attack an “unimaginable tragedy.”
“Our hearts are in Tumbler Ridge tonight with the families of those who have lost loved ones,” Eby said, adding that the provincial government would ensure support for affected community members.
Prime Minister Mark Carney reportedly delayed his departure for a security conference in Munich to address the tragedy.
“I join Canadians in grieving with those whose lives have been changed irreversibly today,” Carney said in a social media post, thanking first responders for their courage.
Canada has stricter gun ownership laws than the United States. However, a series of mass shootings in recent years has renewed debate over gun control measures. Former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced additional restrictions in 2022, including a freeze on the buying and selling of handguns.
For now, the focus remains on the victims — and a grieving community trying to make sense of what happened.
