Daijiworld Media Network - Ottawa
Ottawa, Feb 11: Nine people lost their lives in a shooting incident in Tumbler Ridge, a small mining town in British Columbia, with the suspected assailant later found dead, authorities said.
Chief superintendent Ken Floyd, who heads the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) northern district in the province, said seven victims were located inside a local high school, while two others were found at a nearby residence. The suspected shooter was discovered deceased within the school premises.
An active shooter alert had earlier been issued in the area, describing the suspect as a brown-haired female wearing a dress. Floyd confirmed that the individual found dead was the same person referenced in the alert. However, he declined to provide further details about the suspect’s identity, citing privacy considerations and the ongoing investigation.
Approximately 100 students and staff members were safely evacuated from the school. Police said two individuals with serious injuries were airlifted to hospital, and 25 others were examined at a local medical centre.
Investigators believe the incidents at the school and the nearby house are connected. Authorities have yet to determine a motive.
“We may face challenges in establishing the reason behind this tragedy, but our priority is to piece together exactly what transpired,” Floyd said during a virtual briefing.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was “devastated” by the “horrific acts of violence,” while British Columbia Premier David Eby described the episode as an “unimaginable tragedy” and assured that the government would provide all necessary support to the affected community.
Tumbler Ridge, a coal-mining town with a population of around 2,400 and known for its dinosaur fossil sites, has been left shaken by the incident.
Mass shootings are rare in Canada. The last major school shooting occurred in Montreal in 1989, when 14 people were killed. In 2020, Nova Scotia witnessed one of the country’s deadliest attacks, in which 22 people were killed over two days.