Canada Shaken by Its Deadliest School Shooting in Four Decades After Woman in Dress Opens Fire

Canada is in mourning following a catastrophic shooting in the isolated community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, where officials report that nine people lost their lives and at least 25 others were wounded in coordinated attacks that targeted both a secondary school and a nearby residence.

The violence unfolded throughout Tuesday, February 10, devastating a town of approximately 2,400 people situated in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, about 415 miles north of Vancouver and near the Alberta border. In a community where neighbors typically know each other by name, the magnitude of the tragedy has left families, students, and emergency responders in profound shock.

Authorities say the deadliest scene was inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, a modest campus serving roughly 175 students. Officers responding to reports of an active shooter entered the building to locate the threat and secure the premises. During their sweep, they encountered multiple victims. Six individuals were pronounced dead at the school, and a seventh later succumbed to injuries while en route to the hospital.

Investigators also located the suspected gunman within the school. Officials confirmed the individual was found deceased and appeared to have sustained a self-inflicted wound. Canadian federal police Chief Superintendent Ken Floyd stated that the person discovered matched the description circulated earlier in an emergency alert issued to residents.

That alert identified the suspect as a “female in a dress with brown hair.” While authorities believe they know the attacker’s identity, they have not released the name publicly or clarified what, if any, connection the individual had to the school. Details about the weapon involved have also not been disclosed.

The violence extended beyond school grounds. Police confirmed that two additional victims were discovered deceased at a nearby home believed to be linked to the school incident. Officials have provided limited information about the residence or its connection to the broader attack, emphasizing that the investigation is still active.

For students inside the building, the ordeal was both terrifying and surreal. One Grade 12 student told CBC that classmates reacted swiftly, pushing desks against doors and barricading classrooms in an attempt to stay safe. “It felt like I was somewhere that I had only seen across a TV,” the student said, expressing the disbelief that often follows violence in places considered safe.

Law enforcement leaders have been measured in their public remarks, underscoring both the seriousness of the tragedy and the many unanswered questions that remain. Chief Superintendent Floyd acknowledged the difficulty of establishing motive. “I think we will struggle to determine the ‘why,’ but we will try our best to determine what transpired,” he said during a virtual press briefing. “We are not in a place to understand why or what may have motivated this tragedy.”

In its summary of the response, the RCMP said officers entered the school to neutralize the threat and encountered multiple casualties during their search. They also located an individual believed to be responsible, deceased from what appeared to be a self-inflicted injury. No additional suspects have been announced.

The incident quickly drew national attention, prompting statements from leaders across Canada. Prime Minister Mark Carney described the event as “horrific,” saying he was deeply shaken by the shootings. He offered prayers and condolences to the families and friends of the victims, calling the violence a profound national sorrow.

British Columbia Premier David Eby likewise addressed the tragedy, labeling it an “unimaginable tragedy.” He encouraged residents across the province to support Tumbler Ridge as it confronts the early days of grief and uncertainty.

In the immediate aftermath, efforts have centered on safety, medical response, and community stabilization. Officials said about 100 students and staff were safely evacuated from the school. The secondary school, along with the town’s elementary school and a local college, remained closed for the rest of the week while investigators processed the scenes and the community began absorbing the shock.

Authorities have not yet released the victims’ names, a standard practice while families are notified and identities formally confirmed. The absence of those details leaves the public grappling with stark numbers and lingering questions as mourning begins.

While mass shootings are relatively uncommon in Canada, the country has faced significant tragedies before. The article references two events often cited in national discussions on gun violence: the 1989 Montreal shooting that claimed 14 lives and the 2020 Nova Scotia rampage that left 22 people dead. In response to such incidents, Canada enacted stricter gun control policies, including measures to restrict and buy back certain military-style firearms.

Against that historical backdrop, the killings in Tumbler Ridge are being described as among the deadliest shootings in the nation’s recent history. The shock is intensified by the town’s small size and remote setting. Originally established as a coal-mining community and surrounded by vast wilderness, Tumbler Ridge is not typically associated with large-scale violence, making the tragedy feel especially jarring to residents and observers alike.

As investigators continue piecing together the timeline, they are expected to examine what occurred inside the school, how the suspect moved through the area, and whether any warning signs might have been detected earlier. Officials have reiterated that determining motive may prove challenging but stress their commitment to uncovering the facts and sharing verified updates when possible.

For now, the town is left navigating grief, fear, and the slow, painful process of understanding the incomprehensible. Parents face unimaginable loss. Students carry memories no young person should endure. First responders return home marked by scenes that will not easily fade. And a small community built to withstand isolation and harsh winters now confronts a different kind of devastation, one whose impact will linger long after the headlines disappear.