LAST UPDATE | 41 mins ago

NINE PEOPLE HAVE been killed and dozens have been injured after a shooter opened fire at a secondary school and residence in a remote part of western Canada. 

The incident happened at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia at around 1.20pm local time (8.20pm Irish time). The town, which has roughly 2,400 residents, is over 1,100 kilometres north of Vancouver. 

A shelter-in-place alert sent to students’ phones was lifted four hours later. 

Of the nine people killed, six were found dead in the school while a seventh person with a gunshot wound died while en route to hospital.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police discovered two more people dead at the nearby residence which they believe to be “connected to the incident”.

A total of 27 people were wounded, including two with serious injuries and 25 who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, the RCMP said in a statement.

The suspect was found dead in the school “with what appears to be a self‑inflicted injury”, the statement said. 

Tumbler Ridge is about 1,100km north of Vancouver. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo

Ken Floyd, commander of the police’s northern district, described the incident as “a rapidly evolving and dynamic situation.”

“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,” he said.

Floyd told reporters the shooter was the same suspect police described as “female” in a prior emergency alert to community members, but declined to provide any details on the suspect’s identity.

Tumbler Ridge student Darian Quist told the public broadcaster CBC that he was in his mechanics class when there was an announcement that the school was in lockdown.

He said that initially he “didn’t think anything was going on,” but started receiving “disturbing” photos about the carnage at the school. “It set in what was happening,” Quist said.

He said he stayed in lockdown for more than two hours until police stormed in and escorted students out of the school.

Darian’s mother, Shelley Quist, said she embraced her son when they finally connected after the site was declared safe. “He’s not going to be out of my sight for a while now,” she told the CBC.

‘Horrific acts of violence’

In a statement, the municipality of Tumbler Ridge said: “There are no words sufficient for the heartbreak our community is experiencing tonight.

“We are devastated by the loss of life and the profound impact this tragedy has had on families, students, staff, and our entire town,” the municipality said.

I am devastated by today’s horrific shootings in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. My prayers and deepest condolences are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones to these horrific acts of violence.

I join Canadians in grieving with those whose lives have been changed…

— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) February 11, 2026

Canadian prime minister Mark Carney also said he was devastated by the shooting.

“My prayers and deepest condolences are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones to these horrific acts of violence,” he said on X, adding that he was suspending plans to travel to the Munich Security Conference today.

Premier of British Columbia David Eby called the violence “unimaginable”.

He asked the people of British Columbia “to wrap these families with love, not just tonight, but tomorrow and into the future”.

“This is something that will reverberate for years to come,” Eby said. 

The RCMP said officers were searching other homes and properties in the community to see if there were additional sites connected to the incident.

Mass shootings are extremely rare in Canada, but 11 people were killed in Vancouver in April during a vehicle attack that targeted a Filipino cultural festival.

With reporting from © AFP 2026