A small, tight-knit mountain community in northeastern British Columbia is reeling after a mass shooting at a secondary school and a nearby residence left 10 people dead and at least 25 others injured on Tuesday afternoon. The massacre, which occurred on February 10, 2026, is being described by officials as one of the deadliest mass casualty events in Canadian history and the worst school shooting the nation has seen in over three decades.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed that the deceased include nine victims and the suspected shooter, who was found inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School with what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The violence began at approximately 1:20 p.m. local time, prompting a frantic emergency response and a "shelter-in-place" order that paralysed the town of 2,400 residents for several hours.
According to RCMP Superintendent Ken Floyd, officers arrived at the school within two minutes of the first emergency call. Inside, they discovered six victims already deceased. A seventh victim died while being transported to the hospital. As the investigation expanded, police identified a secondary crime scene at a private residence connected to the incident, where two additional victims were found dead.
"The scene was very dramatic, and there were multiple victims that are still being cared for," Superintendent Floyd told reporters during a press conference on Wednesday. While the RCMP has not officially released the suspect's name, an emergency alert sent to residents during the crisis described the assailant as a “female in a dress with brown hair". Authorities stated they believe the shooter acted alone and that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who postponed a planned trip to Nova Scotia and Germany to coordinate the federal response, expressed profound grief in a statement addressed to the nation. "I am devastated by today’s horrific shootings in Tumbler Ridge, B.C.," Carney said. "My prayers and deepest condolences are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones to these horrific acts of violence. Our ability to come together in crisis is the best of our country—our empathy, our unity, and our compassion for each other."
The Northern Health Authority placed the Tumbler Ridge Health Centre under a "Code Orange" status to manage the mass casualty influx. At least 25 people were treated for various injuries, with two victims airlifted to larger regional hospitals in critical condition. B.C. Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger praised the rapid intervention of local law enforcement, noting that their swift arrival "no doubt saved lives today."
British Columbia Premier David Eby called the event an "unimaginable tragedy" that has shaken the province to its core. "I know it’s causing us all to hug our kids a little bit tighter tonight," Eby said. "I'm asking the people of British Columbia to look after the people of Tumbler Ridge tonight."
Both the elementary and secondary schools in the district will remain closed for the remainder of the week as major crime units continue their forensic investigation. Counselling and victim services have been deployed to help students and families process the trauma in a town where, as Mayor Darryl Krakowka noted, "everyone is like a big family."