TUMBLER RIDGE, B.C. — Ten people, including the suspected shooter, were killed and at least 27 others were injured after gunfire erupted at the town’s secondary school and a nearby home, police said Tuesday. Authorities said a female suspect was found dead at the school and investigators were still working to determine a motive, Feb. 10, 2026.
In a news release, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police said officers were called to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School at about 1:20 p.m. and issued a public alert as they rushed to the scene.
Police said six people, not including the suspect, were found dead inside the school. Two additional victims were found dead at a residence believed to be connected to the attack, and another person died while being transported to a hospital.
Two victims were airlifted to hospital with injuries described as serious or life-threatening, the RCMP said, and about 25 others were being assessed at the local medical center for injuries described as non-life-threatening.
The public alert was lifted about 5:45 p.m., after officers swept the school and said they did not believe there were any other suspects. The initial alert described the suspect as a woman in a dress with brown hair, Reuters reported, and police have not said how many of the victims were students.
Students and staff members were evacuated and taken through a family reunification process, police said. School officials said classes in Tumbler Ridge would be canceled for the rest of the week while counseling and other supports are arranged.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was “devastated” by the shootings, and British Columbia Premier David Eby called it an “unimaginable tragedy,” according to The Associated Press. Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka said the community was “a big family” and was grieving.
What we know about the Tumbler Ridge school shooting
- Timeline: Tumbler Ridge RCMP said the first report came in about 1:20 p.m., and the public alert was canceled at 5:45 p.m.
- Deaths: RCMP said six people were found dead inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, and the suspected shooter was found dead there as well. Two more people were found dead at a connected residence, and another person died while being transported to hospital.
- Injuries: Two people were airlifted with serious or life-threatening injuries, and about 25 others were treated for injuries described as non-life-threatening.
- Suspect: Police have not publicly identified the shooter or released a motive. Officers said the suspect appeared to have died from a self-inflicted injury.
- Investigation: B.C. RCMP Major Crime has taken over the investigation and officers are searching additional properties, police said.
Investigation and response in Tumbler Ridge
RCMP said local officers entered the school as part of the initial response and later brought in additional resources, including an emergency response team, major crime investigators and victim services staff.
“Our thoughts are with the families, loved ones, and all those impacted by this tragic incident,” Superintendent Ken Floyd said in the RCMP statement.
Past attacks that shaped Canada’s response
The shootings in Tumbler Ridge revived painful memories of past attacks that prompted national debates over public safety, misogynistic violence and gun policy, including the École Polytechnique tragedy in Montreal, Quebec, in 1989.
Federal officials have also cited the 2020 Nova Scotia attacks — the deadliest mass shooting in Canadian history — when discussing changes to firearm rules and emergency alert systems.
Canada has faced other rare but devastating school shootings, including the 2016 attack in La Loche, Saskatchewan, where the shooter was later sentenced to life in prison, as Global News reported.
In Tumbler Ridge, officials urged residents to rely on verified updates as investigators work to identify victims, notify families and determine what led to the violence.
