Canada Shooting Leaves 10 Dead as Authorities Decline to Release Victim Ages

Canada, Feb 11 : Authorities confirm fatalities, with ages of victims undisclosed

Ten people, including the suspected shooter, have died following a mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canadian police confirmed Tuesday (local time). Investigators cautioned that key details, including victims’ ages, remain unverified. Police said they received the first report of an active shooter around 1:20 pm local time.

Incident Details: School and Residence Targeted

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) reported that nine victims and the suspect died in the attack, which took place at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and a nearby residence. The suspected shooter was found deceased inside the school from what police described as a “self-inflicted injury.”

Six victims were found at the secondary school, one died en route to hospital, and two others were discovered at a residence connected to the incident. Two individuals were airlifted with serious injuries, while roughly 25 others received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries at the local health centre.

Shooter Identified in Early Alert

North District Chief Superintendent Ken Floyd confirmed that the deceased inside the school matched the description in an earlier active-shooter alert. Police had described the suspect as a woman in a dress with brown hair.

Floyd said all remaining students and staff—about 100 people—were safely evacuated. The school district placed the secondary school and a nearby elementary school under a “hold and secure” lockdown as a precaution.

Police Warn Against Speculation on Victims

RCMP stated there are no other suspects and no ongoing public threat, though searches of homes in the community continue. Floyd declined to disclose whether the victims were adults or children or the shooter’s age, citing privacy and safety concerns.

“We’re following all leads to determine the connection to the shooter,” Floyd said. “We may never fully know the ‘why,’ but we will do our best to understand what happened.”

Additional RCMP officers, including Major Crime Unit members, have been deployed to support the investigation and help reunite students with parents.

Community Response: Support and Healing

Tumbler Ridge, a remote town of about 2,400 residents located roughly 660 km northeast of Vancouver, has a secondary school of approximately 160 students. Local leaders urged patience and offered support for those affected.

“My thoughts are with the students, families, educators, and the entire Tumbler Ridge community,” said area MLA Larry Neufeld. “This is a small, close-knit town, and the impact of such an event is felt by everyone.”

Faith leaders and community members have stepped in to provide emotional guidance. Pastor George Rowe, who previously worked as a substitute teacher at the school, described the tragedy as felt across the entire town.

Investigation Draws on Past Lessons

Former RCMP major crimes investigator Bruce Pitt-Payne noted that police will likely apply lessons from the 2020 Portapique mass shooting in Nova Scotia, which claimed 22 lives.

“There’s a lot that has improved since Portapique, and those lessons are being applied in real time,” Pitt-Payne said.

Authorities continue to investigate the full circumstances surrounding the Tumbler Ridge school shooting as the community mourns and begins the process of recovery.