Ten people, including the suspected shooter, are dead after a gunman opened fire at a high school in western Canada, marking one of the most deadly mass casualty events in the country’s recent history.
The shooting took place on Tuesday in Tumbler Ridge, a remote community in British Columbia with a population of around 2,400 people. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), six victims were found dead inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, while two others were discovered at a nearby residence believed to be connected to the incident. Another person died on the way to hospital.
At least two people remain hospitalized with serious or life-threatening injuries, and up to 25 others are being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
The suspected shooter was also found dead inside the school from what authorities described as a self-inflicted injury. Police said they do not believe there are additional suspects or any ongoing threat to the public.
An earlier active shooter alert described the suspect as “female in a dress with brown hair.” Police Superintendent Ken Floyd later confirmed that the individual described in the alert was the same person found dead at the school. Authorities have not released further details about the shooter or confirmed how many of the victims were minors.
“This is a small, tight-knit community with a small RCMP detachment as well, who responded in two minutes, no doubt saving lives today,” said British Columbia Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger. Officials said local police arrived at the scene within two minutes of receiving the initial call.
As reported in Reuters, British Columbia Premier David Eby expressed shock at the tragedy, telling reporters: “It’s hard to know what to say on a night like tonight. It’s the kind of thing that feels like it happens in other places and not close to home.”
Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, which serves around 160 students in grades seven through 12, will remain closed for the rest of the week. Counseling services are being made available to students and staff.
The shooting ranks among the deadliest in Canadian history. Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was “devastated” by the violence and postponed a planned announcement and overseas trip in response to the tragedy.
