Vancouver, Feb 11: A devastating shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia has left eight people dead, including the suspected gunman, while two additional bodies were discovered at a residence believed to be connected to the incident, Canadian authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) reported that more than 25 individuals were injured in the attack, with two victims in life-threatening condition. According to police, officers responding to reports of an active shooter entered the school premises and located multiple victims. The suspect was found deceased inside the building with what appears to be a self-inflicted injury.
In a statement, the RCMP said six victims, excluding the suspect, were found dead within the school. Two seriously injured individuals were airlifted to hospital, while a third victim succumbed to injuries while being transported for medical treatment. Authorities later confirmed that two more deceased individuals were found at a nearby home believed to be linked to the case.
RCMP Superintendent Ken Floyd stated that investigators have identified the shooter but are withholding the name at this stage. The motive behind the attack remains unclear. “We are not in a place to understand why or what may have motivated this tragedy,” Floyd said, adding that police are still working to determine how the victims were connected to the suspect.
The town of Tumbler Ridge, with a population of approximately 2,400 residents, lies over 1,000 kilometres north of Vancouver near the Alberta border. Provincial records indicate that Tumbler Ridge Secondary School serves around 175 students from Grades 7 to 12.
The Peace River South School District confirmed that both the secondary school and Tumbler Ridge Elementary School were placed under “lockdown and secure and hold” procedures during the emergency response. Larry Neufeld, Member of the Legislative Assembly for Peace River South, said an extensive deployment of RCMP personnel and emergency medical services had been mobilised to the community. He declined to provide further operational details, citing concerns over the safety and integrity of the ongoing investigation.
