A tragic shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia on Tuesday has left at least nine people dead, including the suspected shooter, and several others injured. Authorities say this is one of the deadliest school attacks in Canada in decades.
Six victims were discovered inside the school, and another person died while being transported to hospital. The suspected shooter was also found dead on school grounds with what appeared to be a self-inflicted injury.
Multiple Locations Impacted
During their initial response, RCMP officers entered the school to neutralize the threat and discovered multiple victims. Police later found two additional people dead at a nearby residence believed to be connected to the incident.
In total, six people died inside the school, two victims were airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries, and around 25 others received treatment for non-critical injuries. Investigators are still working to understand the connections between the victims and the shooter, whose identity is known but has not been released.
Schools Locked Down and Emergency Response
Both Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and the town’s elementary school were placed on lockdown. Local authorities deployed significant resources, including RCMP officers and ambulance crews, to ensure the safety of residents while the investigation continues.
Tumbler Ridge, a small town more than 1,000 kilometres north of Vancouver near the Alberta border, is home to about 175 secondary school students in grades 7 through 12.
National Leaders Offer Condolences
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his deep sorrow over the tragedy, sending condolences to the families of the victims. He emphasized that the government is coordinating with local officials to provide support to the community.
Carney highlighted the importance of national unity in times of crisis, calling for empathy, compassion, and coming together to help those affected by the shocking events in Tumbler Ridge.
