Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada – A remote mountain town in northeastern British Columbia is grappling with profound grief after a mass shooting at a secondary school and a nearby residence left at least nine people dead and more than two dozen injured, marking one of the deadliest acts of gun violence in modern Canadian history.
The attack unfolded on Tuesday afternoon in Tumbler Ridge, a community of roughly 2,400 residents known for its isolation and close-knit character. Authorities say the violence spanned multiple locations, heightening shock and fear in a town unaccustomed to such tragedy.
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the suspect first fatally shot his mother, aged 44, and his stepbrother, aged 15, at a private residence before traveling to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where the attack continued. Police said both killings occurred shortly before the school shooting, though investigators have not released further details surrounding the incident at the home.
Emergency calls reporting an active shooter at the school were received shortly after 2:20 p.m. local time. Officers arrived within minutes, placing the campus under immediate lockdown as students and staff sheltered inside classrooms. The suspect was later found deceased at the scene from what authorities described as a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
At the school, six people were killed, including five students aged between 12 and 13 and one adult educator. Twenty-seven others were injured, several of whom were transported to regional hospitals, with at least two reported to be in critical condition.
The scale of the attack has drawn comparisons to the most severe mass casualty events in Canada’s recent history and has reignited national conversations around school safety, mental health, and gun violence, even as authorities cautioned against speculation while the investigation remains ongoing.
Air ambulance services were dispatched to the remote town, with some of the most seriously injured flown to hospitals outside the region. Crisis counsellors and victim support services were mobilised almost immediately, and schools across the district were closed as a precaution.
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed condolences to the victims’ families and the broader community, describing the events as “a devastating loss that has shaken the nation.” Flags across federal buildings were ordered to be lowered to half-mast, and federal support has been pledged to assist local authorities and residents.
British Columbia Premier David Eby called the shooting “an unimaginable tragedy for a town that should have felt safe,” urging Canadians to keep the victims and first responders in their thoughts.
Police have confirmed the suspect was 18 years old and said there is no ongoing threat to the public. Investigators are continuing to examine the sequence of events, the weapons used, and the circumstances leading up to the attack. Authorities said additional information will be released as it is verified.
As Tumbler Ridge begins the difficult process of mourning and recovery, community members have gathered at vigils across the town, honouring the victims in a place that now finds itself at the centre of national grief.
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