A suspected shooter has killed at least nine in a school shooting in British Columbia on Tuesday, one of Canada's deadliest such attacks in decades.
Six people were found dead inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and another victim died while being transported to hospital, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCPM) said.
The suspected shooter was also found dead at the school with what appeared to be a self-inflicted injury.
"As part of the initial response to the active shooting, police entered the school to locate the threat. During the search, officers located multiple victims. An individual believed to be the shooter was also found deceased with what appears to be a self‑inflicted injury,” RCMP said in a statement.
Two more people were found dead at a residence in Tumbler Ridge believed to be connected to the incident, police said.
“Six additional individuals, not including the suspect, have been located deceased inside the school. Two victims have been airlifted to hospital with serious or life‑threatening injuries. A third victim died while being transported to hospital,” RCMP said.
About 25 others were treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a local medical centre, police said.
RCMP Superintendent Ken Floyd said that investigators knew the identity of the shooter but would not release a name, however the reason of the shooting remains unclear.
“We are not in a place to understand why or what may have motivated this tragedy,” Floyd said.
Floyd added that police are still investigating how the victims are connected to the shooter.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his condolences to the victims’ families and stated that the government “are in close contact with their counterparts to ensure the community is fully supported as best we can.”
“I am devastated by today’s horrific shootings in Tumbler Ridge, BC My prayers and deepest condolences are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones to these horrific acts of violence. ” he wrote in a post on X.
“Our ability to come together in crisis is the best of our country — our empathy, our unity, and our compassion for each other.” he added.
Schools placed on lockdown
Both the secondary school and the Tumbler Ridge Elementary school were placed on “lockdown and secure and hold,” the Peace River South District said earlier on Tuesday.
According to Larry Neufeld, the member of the legislature for Peace River South, an "excess" of resources including RCMP and ambulance support were deployed into the community, without releasing more information over concerns of jeopardising the safety of the ongoing operation.
School shootings are rare in Canada.
The small town of Tumble Ridge is located more than 1,000 kilometres north of Vancouver, close to Alberta.
According to the provincial government website, Tumbler Ridge Secondary School lists 175 students in grades 7 to 12.
This is a developing story and our journalists are working on further updates.
