Key events
Jonathan Yerushalmy
The town of Tumbler Ridge, which has a population of about 2,400 people, is more than 1,000km north of Vancouver, near the border with Alberta.
Located in British Columbia, the town is a former coal mining community which saw a boom during the 1970s, and again more recently when mining returned.
The town markets itself as a land of “dinosaurs and waterfalls”, and is the site of a UNESCO area of internationally significant geology, geography, or human history, according to CBC.
School shootings are rare in Canada and Tumbler Ridge secondary school has more than 160 students, according to its website.
Canadian police: ‘We believe we’ve been able to identify the shooter’ but withholds details over privacy reasons
“We believe we’ve been able to identify the shooter,” said Floyd, adding that RCMP will withhold the shooter’s identity for privacy reasons and for the conduct of the investigation.
Floyd also refused to disclose details on how many of the victims were children and adults, adding that more details will emerge in coming days.
Canadian police: Suspect found dead in what ‘appeared to be a self-inflicted injury’
The suspect involved in the shooting was found deceased in what “appeared to be a self-inflicted injury,” Floyd said.
He added that remaining school staff and students, which was about 100 people total, were safely evacuated.
Floyd added that police are not yet able to determine the motivations of the shooter, adding:
“We are grateful for the cooperation shown as officers continue to advance the investigation.”
The RCMP is currently holding a virtual press conference on the shooting.
RCMP’s North District chief superintendent Ken Floyd said the victims injured are being triaged and did not disclose any details on the connection of the shooter to the local high school.
Nina Krieger, British Columbia’s minister of public safety and solicitor general, has called the shooting “devastating,” adding that her office will “deploy every resource to support the investigation and the people of Tumbler Ridge.”
Her full statement is as follows:
“The RCMP have ended the emergency alert in Tumbler Ridge. Police do not believe there are any outstanding suspects or ongoing threat to the public.
Today’s devastating events are sending shockwaves through the community and the entire province. My thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the entire Tumbler Ridge community.
I would [like] to thank RCMP and first responders for their immediate and courageous response. We will deploy every resource to support the investigation and the people of Tumbler Ridge.”
Tumbler Ridge is located in a remote part of British Columbia, north of Vancouver:
Tumbler Ridge’s elementary and secondary schools to close
Tumbler Ridge’s elementary and secondary schools will close for the rest of the week following this afternoon’s shooting.
In a statement online, the school district said:
“Due to the tragic events that unfolded in community of Tumbler Ridge today, Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and Tumbler Ridge Elementary School will be closed for the rest of the week.
The district will make supports available and once we have the locations for where the supports will be we will put that information on social media.”
RCMP’s north district commander, superintendent Ken Floyd called the shooting a “rapidly evolving and dynamic situation,” adding that the “swift cooperation from the school, first responders, and the community played a critical role in our response.”
Floyd went on to say:
“Our thoughts are with the families, loved ones, and all those impacted by this tragic incident. This has been an incredibly difficult and emotional day for our community, and we are grateful for the cooperation shown as officers continue their work to advance the investigation.”
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has released a statement on the shooting in British Columbia, saying that it had received a report of an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge secondary school at around 1:20pm.
It stated:
“As part of the initial response to the active shooting, police entered the school to locate the threat. During the search, officers located multiple victims. An individual believed to be the shooter was also found deceased with what appears to be a self‑inflicted injury.
Six additional individuals, not including the suspect, have been located deceased inside the school. Two victims have been airlifted to hospital with serious or life‑threatening injuries. A third victim died while being transported to hospital. Approximately 25 others are being assessed and triaged at the local medical centre for non‑life‑threatening injuries.”
All remaining students and staff were safely evacuated, RCMP said, adding that police have identified a secondary location believed to be connected to the incident where “two additional victims were located deceased in a residence.”
Opening summary
At least eight people are dead following a shooting at a high school in British Columbia, Canada on Tuesday afternoon.
According to a statement from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, seven people were found dead in an attack in British Columbia’s municipality of Tumbler Ridge. A suspect was also found deceased, police said.
At least 25 other people are currently being treated for injuries, national broadcaster CBC added, citing Canadian police.
Stay with us as we bring you the latest developments…
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