A devastating active shooter incident at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School has left the close-knit community of northeastern British Columbia in mourning. On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, a mass shooting claimed the lives of eight victims and the suspect, marking one of the deadliest events in Canadian history. Prime Minister Mark Carney and provincial leaders have expressed profound grief as the town of approximately 2,000 residents grapples with the aftermath of the Tumbler Ridge school shooting.
The incident began in the early afternoon when the Tumbler Ridge RCMP received reports of an active shooter on the high school campus. A rapid response from law enforcement and emergency personnel followed, leading to a community-wide lockdown and a massive search effort. While the immediate threat has been neutralized, the investigation continues as authorities work to support grieving families and determine the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Tragedy at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School
The violence unfolded at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where multiple victims were located inside the building. According to the RCMP, officers entered the school shortly after arriving to locate the threat and discovered six individuals who were initially believed to be deceased. Emergency Health Services confirmed that two other victims were airlifted to a hospital with serious or life-threatening injuries, while a third victim died during transport to a medical facility.
Additional casualties were discovered at a secondary location connected to the attack. Police located two victims deceased inside a nearby residence, further expanding the scope of the tragedy. B.C. RCMP Major Crime has since assumed conduct of the investigation, conducting searches of additional homes and properties to ensure no other individuals were injured or linked to the day’s events.
Confirmed Casualties and Ongoing Discrepancies
Official reports regarding the final death toll have seen some adjustments as investigators process the scene. B.C. RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald provided a critical update on Wednesday, confirming that one girl who was previously believed to have been killed was actually found to be alive. This correction adjusted the total number of deaths to nine individuals, including the suspect.
Despite this update, a minor discrepancy remains in the public statements from high-ranking officials. B.C. Premier David Eby stated that 10 people had died, specifying that eight were found in the school and two were located in a nearby home. According to Deputy Commissioner McDonald, the confirmed deaths include a female teacher, three female students, and two male students from the school, as well as an adult woman and a male youth found at the residential location. One surviving victim, a 12-year-old girl named Maya, is currently receiving treatment at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.
Timeline of the Active Shooter Incident
The timeline of the Tumbler Ridge school shooting began at 1:20 p.m. local time on Tuesday when the RCMP received the first reports of gunfire. By 1:22 p.m., the first officers had arrived on the scene. At the same time, authorities issued a Police Initiated Public Alert (PIPA), ordering the entire community to shelter in place and lock their doors. All residents were instructed to refrain from leaving their homes or businesses while the situation remained active.
By 2:50 p.m., School District 59 – Peace River South confirmed that both Tumbler Ridge Secondary and the nearby Tumbler Ridge Elementary school were under a “secure and hold” protocol. At 3:15 p.m., a second emergency alert was broadcast to local cellphones, providing a description of the suspect. The lockdown remained in effect for several hours until the RCMP officially cancelled the alert at 5:45 p.m., stating there was no longer an ongoing threat to the public.
Identification and Investigation of the Suspect
The suspect in the Tumbler Ridge school shooting has been identified as an 18-year-old who reportedly had a prior history of mental health challenges. During the emergency, the shooter was described in alerts as a female with brown hair wearing a dress. After entering the school, officers found the suspect deceased from what appeared to be a self-inflicted injury.
Superintendent Ken Floyd, the North District Commander of the BC RCMP, confirmed that the deceased suspect was the same person described in the initial emergency alerts. While the identity of the shooter is known to investigators, they have not yet released a name to the public. Police have also stated that they are not yet in a position to understand the specific motivations behind the attack, and the Major Crime Section is working to determine the full circumstances of the day.
Community Impact and Local Reaction
The impact on the small town of Tumbler Ridge has been described as mind-blowing by residents who are used to a high sense of safety. Manda Maggs, executive director of the Tumbler Ridge UNESCO Global Geopark, noted that the town is so close-knit that everyone is likely to be connected to the victims in some way. She described the shock of seeing distraught parents rushing toward the school in a community where residents typically leave their bicycles unlocked.
Local Reverend Gerald Krauss spent the hours following the shooting at a community center, grieving with the families of the victims. He described the atmosphere as devastating, noting that the road to recovery for the town will be long. Nicole Noksana, the chair of the school’s Parent Advisory Council, expressed that the council is heartbroken and emphasized that the safety and well-being of students and staff remain the highest priority during this difficult time.
National and Provincial Leadership Responses
Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the nation on Wednesday, announcing that flags will fly at half-mast for seven days at all federal government buildings. He suspended his planned travel to Halifax and Munich to coordinate the federal response with Minister of Public Safety Gary Anandasangaree. Carney stated that the entire nation mourns with the people of Tumbler Ridge and stands by them in their grief.
B.C. Premier David Eby and Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger also visited the region to promise ongoing support. Krieger confirmed that the Ministry of Education is actively mobilizing trauma and crisis response teams, including counselors and a psychiatric liaison nurse, to support families and students. She characterized the event as one of the worst mass shootings in the history of the province and the country, urging all Canadians to support the affected families in the years to come.
