Ottawa (Web Desk): A devastating shooting erupted Tuesday at a high school in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, claiming ten lives, including the shooter, police reported.
The attack, one of the most lethal in recent Canadian history, has sent shockwaves across the country and drawn comparisons to mass shootings more frequently seen in the United States (US)
Authorities found six victims inside the school and two more at a nearby residence believed to be connected to the attack. Another person died while being transported to the hospital. At least two individuals remain in critical condition, while roughly 25 others are receiving treatment for less serious injuries.
The shooter, identified as a woman, appears to have taken her own life. Law enforcement stressed there are no other suspects and no ongoing danger to the public. RCMP Superintendent Ken Floyd described the scene:
“Multiple injuries and multiple deceased were inside the school as officers moved through the area,” adding that emergency responders were still assisting other victims.
Initial alerts described the shooter as a woman with brown hair wearing a dress, and Superintendent Floyd later confirmed that the person found at the school was the same individual. Authorities have not disclosed how many of the victims were minors.
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his condolences on social media, writing, “I am devastated by today’s horrific shootings in Tumbler Ridge, BC. My prayers and deepest sympathy are with the families and friends of those we have lost.”
The tragedy evokes painful memories of Canada’s past mass attacks, including the 2020 Nova Scotia rampage, in which a man disguised as a police officer killed 22 people over 13 hours. Canada’s deadliest school shooting occurred in 1989 at Montreal’s École Polytechnique, where a gunman targeted female students, killing 14 and injuring 13 before ending his own life.