At least nine dead after shooting in B.C.’s Tumbler Ridge

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At least nine people were killed in various locations in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., on Tuesday.

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According to an RCMP release about the activities, an individual believed to be the shooter was also found deceased.

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In the RCMP release, six individuals, not including the suspect, were found deceased inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Another person died while being transported to a local hospital.

Two other victims have serious or life-threatening injuries, and about 25 others are being assessed at the local medical centre for non‑life‑threatening injuries.

Police also identified a secondary location believed to be connected to the incident, where two additional victims were located deceased in a residence.

An emergency text alert was issued Tuesday afternoon around 1:20 p.m. PT after RCMP confirmed there was an “active shooter incident” at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. The alert also described a suspect as a woman in a dress with brown hair.

In the alert, Tumbler Ridge RCMP asked the public to avoid the area of Tumbler Ridge and follow police directions.

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Just after 5:30 p.m. PT, the shelter in place order was removed. Postmedia reported that Tumbler Ridge Elementary School has told parents they have received confirmation from RCMP they can release students. A local parent confirmed Tumbler Ridge Secondary School students are also exiting this school.

“This was a rapidly evolving and dynamic situation, and the swift cooperation from the school, first responders, and the community played a critical role in our response,” Superintendent Ken Floyd, B.C. RCMP North District Commander said in a media availability on Tuesday night.

“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.”

Floyd said police had identified the shooter but were still working to determine a motive.

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“For privacy reasons and obviously for the conduct of the investigation, we’re not releasing that information at this time,” said Floyd.

Floyd also did not share information on how the shooter was connected to the school or the home where the two other victims were found.

“We’re still working towards that. Again, it wouldn’t be fair to speculate,” he said. “We’re following all leads to try and determine the connection to the shooter.

“I think we will struggle to determine the why but we’re going to try and do our best to determine what transpired that day and what led up to this tragic event in Tumbler Ridge and across our communities.”

Community on edge, answers few

Trent Enrst, publisher of local news outlet Tumbler RidgeLines, told CBC all roads to the school were blocked off when he went to find out what was going on Tuesday afternoon. 

“People are definitely worried,” he said.

He got emotional as he described the community as a quiet and safe place, adding that people feel like it’s a place where emergencies like this don’t happen.

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“That’s been shattered,” he said.

MLA on way

Peace River South MLA Larry Neufeld told Postmedia he was on his way from Victoria to his riding “to be on the ground and available to support the community in any way needed.”

“I am aware of the active shooter situation currently unfolding in Tumbler Ridge, and my thoughts are with residents as this situation continues to develop,” said Neufeld in a statement.

“I have been in direct contact with the solicitor general to receive updates and to ensure all necessary provincial resources are being made available to support local law enforcement and emergency responders.”

Prime Minister Mark Carney has set aside his planned visits to Halifax and Munich this week “for the time being” as a result of the incidents.

Tumbler Ridge is a district municipality in the Peace River region in the B.C. northeast. The main townsite has about 2,400 residents as of the 2021 census.

— with files from Postmedia’s Stephanie Ip, Joe Ruttle, and Rob Brown

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