TUMBLER RIDGE, British Columbia — On February 10, 2026, a mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and a nearby residence in the remote community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, left at least 10 people dead, including the suspected shooter, and dozens more injured, in one of the deadliest episodes of school violence in Canadian history. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed the figures on Wednesday, while investigators continued to piece together the events that unfolded just after 1:20 p.m. local time.
Responding to initial reports of an active shooter at the secondary school, RCMP officers rapidly entered the campus, where six victims were found dead. A seventh victim later died while being transported to hospital, and two additional bodies were discovered at a nearby home believed to be connected to the attack. The suspect, described in early alerts as a female wearing a dress with brown hair, was found deceased inside the school from what authorities believe was a self‑inflicted injury.
‘An Inconceivable Tragedy’
British Columbia Premier David Eby called the incident an “unimaginable tragedy” for the close‑knit community of about 2,400 residents, many of whom are personally connected to victims and responders. “This is a day no one in Tumbler Ridge will ever forget,” Eby said in a statement Wednesday morning, thanking first responders and promising government support.
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his shock and grief, writing on social media on February 11 that he was “devastated by today’s horrific shootings in Tumbler Ridge, B.C.” He postponed his scheduled international engagements and pledged federal resources to assist families and local authorities during what he called a “time of national mourning.”
Community in Mourning
In the aftermath, Tumbler Ridge — a town nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains — was left reeling. Residents described the shootings as “something you never think will happen here,” with many families waiting anxiously for news about loved ones. Local schools, including both the secondary and nearby elementary, were placed under lockdown and later closed for the remainder of the week as crisis counselors were brought in.
First responders faced harrowing scenes as they searched classrooms and corridors amid snow‑covered streets, treating the injured and evacuating students and staff to safety. At least two people with serious injuries were airlifted to larger hospitals outside Tumbler Ridge, officials said, while roughly 25 others received treatment for non‑life‑threatening wounds.
Authorities have not yet released details about a possible motive, and the RCMP continues to investigate the shooter’s background and any connections between victims and the suspect. Officials emphasized that no additional suspects were being sought and that the community is no longer under an active threat.
The shooting has renewed conversations across Canada about school safety and the rarity of such events in a country with comparatively strict gun regulations, contrasting sharply with similar crises abroad. As Tumbler Ridge grapples with grief and shock, federal and provincial leaders are under pressure to support healing and review community security measures.
