A quiet afternoon in a small Canadian town turned into a scene of horror on Tuesday.
At least nine people were killed in what authorities are calling a tragic Canada school shooting in British Columbia.
The violence has shaken Tumbler Ridge, a close-knit mountain community where such incidents are almost unheard of.
Police confirmed that six people were found dead inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Moreover, dozens of others were injured when officers responded to reports of an active shooter around 1:20 p.m. local time.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said another victim died while being transported to hospital.
In addition, two more bodies were discovered at a nearby residence believed to be linked to the incident. The suspected shooter was later found dead inside the school with what police described as
“what appears to be a self-inflicted injury.”
The suspect was described in an emergency alert as a brown-haired woman wearing a dress. The alert was sent to residents’ mobile phones shortly after the attack began. However, authorities have not released the suspect’s identity for privacy reasons.
Superintendent Ken Floyd, North District commander, addressed reporters during a press conference. He said, “We are not in a place now to be able to understand why or what may have motivated this tragedy.”
Furthermore, he added, “I think we will struggle to determine the ‘why,’ but we will try our best to determine what transpired.”
Meanwhile, two victims were airlifted to hospital with serious or life-threatening injuries. About 25 others with non-life-threatening injuries are being treated at a local medical centre.
Tumbler Ridge Secondary School serves about 175 students from Grades 7 to 12. Therefore, the impact on families has been devastating. It remains unclear how many of the deceased were students. Police have also declined to confirm whether the shooter was a child.
Canada has strict gun laws, and mass shootings are relatively rare compared to other countries.
However, this Canada school shooting has raised urgent questions about safety in schools and rural communities.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing. More details are expected as evidence is reviewed and witnesses are interviewed.
