TUMBLER RIDGE (British Columbia) – A school shooting, leaving 10 dead and 27 injured, has shattered the peace of the small community of Tumbler Ridge, more than a thousand kilometers north of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada. 

The massacre occurred around 1:20 p.m. on Tuesday at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and at a nearby home. According to police, six victims were found inside the school, a seventh person died en route to the hospital, and two bodies were discovered in a house connected to the incident. The perpetrator, cryptically described by police only as “a woman in a dress with brown hair,” (as reported by CBC) was found dead inside the building “with a self-inflicted wound.” Authorities evacuated students and staff and lifted the alert by 5:45 p.m., confirming that there were no other suspects. About 25 people sustained non-life-threatening injuries, while 2 are in critical condition.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced, this morning, that flags will be flown at half-mast for seven days on all federal buildings and expressed condolences to the families. “It’s obviously a very difficult day for the nation,” he said, and, holding back tears, added: “This morning, parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers will wake up without someone they love. The nation mourns with you, and Canada stands by you.” Carney also noted that he had spoken with British Columbia Premier David Eby and that “all necessary assistance will, of course, be offered,” thanking “first responders, teachers, staff, and residents for everything they have done in this terrible situation.”

Tumbler Ridge Secondary School serves students from middle to high school and is a central hub for community life in a town of approximately 2,400 residents, whose economy has traditionally relied on mining and tourism. In such a small community, schools and public facilities are essential gathering places, which makes the impact of the attack even more devastating.

School shootings are relatively rare in Canada, but there have been several serious incidents, including the École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal in 1989, when 14 female students were killed by a 25-year-old who then took his own life.

Police investigations into the British Columbia massacre are ongoing to clarify the motive and circumstances of the attack. This incident is certainly one of the deadliest in Canadian history, leaving the entire country in shock.

In the pic above, where Tumbler Ridge is located (image from Google Maps)