British Columbia, Feb 11: The small town of Tumbler Ridge has become the site of an unimaginable tragedy following a series of shootings that claimed 10 lives and left more than 25 people injured on Tuesday. The violence primarily unfolded at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where police found the suspect dead alongside several victims after a harrowing multi-hour lockdown.
The RCMP has linked the school shooting to a secondary crime scene at a local residence where two people were found dead. Of the victims at the school, six were found on-site and one died during the journey to medical care. Police mentioned that the shooter, identified as a female, acted alone and was discovered with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
“The doors were closed for a while, when he and his classmates realized something was wrong,” said Darian Quist, a senior student. He mentioned that the group used tables to barricade their classroom until help arrived. He noted that the atmosphere was surreal, comparing the experience to scenes typically witnessed in news reports from other countries.
The tragedy has prompted a global response from political figures. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz mentioned that the news had deeply shaken his nation, while Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese noted he was deeply shocked and saddened by the events. B.C. officials mentioned that determining a motive will be a significant challenge for investigators as they piece together the final moments of the shooter’s life.
