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Canadian police say 10 dead in British Columbia school shooting

Canadian police say 10 dead in British Columbia school shooting
By Lyndal Rowlands, Erin Hale and Urooba Jamal
Published On 11 Feb 2026

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11 Feb 2026 - 09:55
 (09:55 GMT)

It’s a wrap from us

Thank you for joining our live coverage of the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting.

You can read our up-to-date news story here.

And you can find answers to the key questions surrounding the deadly incident in our comprehensive explainer here.

 

11 Feb 2026 - 09:45
 (09:45 GMT)

Here’s what happened today

A recap of the main developments from this shooting attack:

  • The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, say at least nine dead bodies have been found at a high school and another location following a mass shooting
  • A woman was identified as a suspect in the killing, according to police. She appeared to be “deceased” following a “self‑inflicted injury”, they say.
  • Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney suspended his planned trip to Europe following the attack, his office says. Carney said he was “devastated” by the “horrific” assault.
  • British Columbia’s premier, David Eby, has called the mass shooting an “unimaginable tragedy, adding the government would “ensure every possible support for community members”.
  • Darian Quist, a Grade 12 student at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, told Canada’s CBC Radio West that he and his classmates barricaded the doors for more than two hours until police escorted them out of the school.
  • Trent Ernst, a local journalist who launched a livestream report as the police operation was under way, said the town’s sense of safety has been shattered.
11 Feb 2026 - 09:30
 (09:30 GMT)
Explainer

Canada’s biggest mass killings

While relatively rare, here are some of Canada’s biggest mass killing incidents:

  • April 2025: Eleven ⁠people were killed and dozens injured when a man with a history of mental health issues rammed an SUV through a crowd at a Filipino community festival in Vancouver, British Columbia.
  • September 2022: A stabbing spree left 10 people dead and injured 18, spanning 13 sites across the two tiny communities of James Smith Cree ‌Nation and Weldon in rural Saskatchewan.
  • April 2020: A gunman, who at one point masqueraded as a police officer, killed at least 16 people in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.
  • July 2018: A man walked down a busy Toronto street, shooting randomly into restaurants. He killed two people and wounded 13 before killing himself.
  • January 2017: A man opened fire during ⁠evening prayers at a mosque in Quebec City, killing six people and wounding five.
  • January 2016: A student killed his two brothers at home before opening fire at a high school in Saskatchewan, killing two more people and wounding seven.
  • April 2014: The son of a ⁠long-serving member of Calgary’s police force was arrested after five people at a house party were stabbed to death.
  • December 2014: A man killed ⁠eight people, including his wife, before killing himself in Edmonton.
  • June 2014: A gunman killed three Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers in New Brunswick and wounded two others.
  • March 2005: A man in Alberta killed four RCMP officers who went to his home to execute a warrant to repossess property. The man then killed himself.
  • April 1999: A former employee of Ottawa’s urban transit service killed four of his colleagues and wounded two others before taking his own life.
  • April 1996: A man killed nine relatives gathered for the ‌wedding ‌of his estranged wife’s sister and wounded two others before killing himself in Vernon, British Columbia.
  • December 1989: A gunman killed 14 students, all female, and wounded 13 at the Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal before committing suicide.
11 Feb 2026 - 09:15
 (09:15 GMT)

School shootings a rare event in Canada, but they still happen

School shootings have become a widespread occurrence in the neighbouring United States, but they are much less common in Canada, thanks in part to stricter gun control laws.

Not including Tumbler Ridge, there have been six deadly school shootings in Canada since the infamous shooting at Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique in 1989.

That shooting was a watershed moment in Canadian history because of the shooter, Marc Lepine’s, hatred for women. He systematically separated male and female students before killing 14 women.

The tragedy raised questions about gender-based violence and the state of gun control laws in Canada, a decade before the 1999 Columbine High School shooting in the US.

The last major school shooting in Canada occurred in 2016 when four people were killed and seven were injured in a Saskatchewan high school shooting.

11 Feb 2026 - 09:00
 (09:00 GMT)

World leaders react to Canadian school shooting

Here’s a roundup of international reaction to the shooting in Tumbler Ridge:

  • French President Emmanuel Macron: “Horror has struck a school in Tumbler Ridge, Canada. Thoughts to the families of the victims, the injured, and the entire educational community. France stands with the Canadians.”
  • Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: “I am deeply shocked and saddened to hear about the tragic attack in Tumbler Ridge secondary school. I send my sincere condolences to all Canadians impacted by this horrific event. Australian hearts go out to the families and friends of the victims and we are all thinking of those injured.”
  • Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics: “Heartbroken by the devastating news from Tumbler Ridge, Canada. My deepest condolences to all Canadians, families and loved ones of the lives senselessly taken in this tragic school shooting. I wish speedy recovery to all those injured.”
  • Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson: “I am horrified by the mass shootings in Tumbler Ridge, Canada. My thoughts and deepest condolences are with the victims and their loved ones. Sweden stands with Canada in these tragic times.”
11 Feb 2026 - 08:45
 (08:45 GMT)

Local BC legislator says he will continue to monitor updates

Larry Neufeld, who represents the Peace River South electoral district in the British Columbia Legislative Assembly, says he is closely monitoring the situation.

“My thoughts are with the students, families, educators, and the entire Tumbler Ridge community. This is a small, close-knit town, and the impact of an event like this is felt by everyone,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

“Out of respect for those affected, it’s important that we allow law enforcement the time they need to complete their investigation and confirm details. I will continue to share verified information as it becomes available,” he said.

11 Feb 2026 - 08:30
 (08:30 GMT)
Explainer

Everything to know about the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting

Where is Tumbler Ridge? What have the authorities said about the shooting? What is the school doing now? And how common are mass shootings in Canada?

Find the answers to all of this and more in our comprehensive explainer about the deadly incident here.

This screengrab of a video provided by local journalist Trent Ernst shows the middle and high school building where a shooting took place, in which at least nine people were killed in the small town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia [File: Trent Ernst/AFP]
11 Feb 2026 - 08:15
 (08:15 GMT)
Explainer

What are Canada’s gun laws?

Canada’s federal gun laws are largely enacted under the country’s Firearms Act.

They strictly regulate firearm possession through mandatory licensing, registration and safety courses.

There has been a national freeze since 2022 that has prohibited the buying and transferring of handguns.

In 2020, the government banned more than 2,500 models of “assault-style” firearms, citing safety from gun violence.

11 Feb 2026 - 07:45
 (07:45 GMT)

BC Premier David Eby urges residents to look after each other

British Columbia Premier David Eby has spoken to the media, but has not shared much new information beyond what was already released by the police.

“Right now, information is very limited as police do their work, and the RCMP has asked for patience as they work through methodically to ensure they are supporting families and getting to the bottom of what happened today,” he told reporters.

Eby urged residents to support each other.

“As British Columbians, I know one of the things we do best is look after each other, and I’m asking British Columbians to look after the people of Tumbler Ridge tonight,” he said.

11 Feb 2026 - 07:30
 (07:30 GMT)

A recap of events – here’s what happened

  • Ten people have been found dead after shootings at a high school and home in the small town of Tumbler Ridge in Canada’s British Columbia on Tuesday afternoon.
  • At least 27 people were also injured, including two with serious or life-threatening injuries, local police said.
  • A suspected Attacker was among those found dead from what appears to be a self‑inflicted injury, police said, adding they did not believe there were any more suspects or an ongoing threat to the public.
  • The shooting occurred at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, which has just 160 students. Some students told reporters how they had barricaded themselves in classrooms for up to two hours before being rescued.
  • Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney was among those sending condolences to the victims of the shooting. He also suspended his upcoming travel to Germany to attend to the tragedy at home.
11 Feb 2026 - 07:15
 (07:15 GMT)

Female identified as suspect in Tumbler Ridge shooting: Media

RCMP Superintendent Ken Floyd tells reporters that investigators have identified a female suspect but would not release a name, and that the attacker’s motive remained unclear, The Associated Press news agency reports.

Floyd said police are still investigating how the victims are connected to the attacker, the AP said.

11 Feb 2026 - 07:00
 (07:00 GMT)

Tumbler Ridge mayor says he probably knew ‘every one of the victims’

Darryl Krakowka, mayor of the tiny town of Tumbler Ridge, says the whole community is grieving.

“I broke down,” Krakowka said when asked about learning how many had died.

“It’s devastating,” he said.

“I have lived here for 18 years,” the mayor said of the community of about 2,700 people, which he called a “big family”.

“I probably know every one of the victims,” he added.

11 Feb 2026 - 06:45
 (06:45 GMT)

What the RCMP and how is it involved in the Tumbler Ridge shooting?

  • The Royal Canadian Mounted Police – better known by their acronym, RCMP, or the “Mounties” – are Canada’s national police force.
  • They may be best known overseas for their red ceremonial uniforms and wide-brimmed hats, but for Canadians, the RCMP is a multipurpose federal law enforcement agency.
  • The RCMP provides provincial and territorial-level policing for every region of Canada except Quebec and Ontario, while detachments are also contracted out to police smaller or more remote communities, including Tumbler Ridge.
  • The RCMP has this arrangement with 150 communities across Canada, and provides similar services for 600 Indigenous communities.
  • Since Tumbler Ridge is overseen by the RCMP, a local detachment responded to the shooting and also fielded questions from the media.
  • The mass shooting has since been handed over to the RCMP’s Major Crimes Unit, according to North District RCMP Superintendent Ken Floyd.
RCMP members stand for the national anthems before a baseball match in Toronto, Canada [File: David J Phillip/AP Photo]
11 Feb 2026 - 06:30
 (06:30 GMT)

‘These things happen elsewhere, they don’t happen here’: Tumbler Ridge reporter

Trent Ernst, the local journalist in Tumbler Ridge who spoke to the CBC earlier and who launched a livestream report as the police operation was under way in the town, became emotional when he described how his sense of safety had been shattered.

Ernst recalled reading about the grisly murder of an international student, Jun Lin, in Montreal in May 2012 and the feeling that such a crime could never happen in his small town.

“The week that happened, the front cover of the newspaper in Tumbler Ridge was this mama duck, these baby ducks walking through downtown. I wrote about this saying … I love the fact that this is Tumbler Ridge news,” he told the CBC.

“There’s that sense of quietness, safety. These things are things that happen elsewhere; they don’t happen here,” Ernst said.

“And that’s been shattered,” he added.

(Al Jazeera)
11 Feb 2026 - 06:15
 (06:15 GMT)

Vancouver ice hockey team shares condolences

The Vancouver Canucks have shared a statement of support following the tragedy in Tumbler Ridge.

“With heavy hearts and our deepest sympathies, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones who lost someone dear during [Tuesday]’s tragic event,” the ice hockey team from British Columbia’s capital city wrote.

“We also send out love, strength and support to those who were injured or deeply affected by this heartbreaking tragedy,” the team added in a statement shared on social media.

11 Feb 2026 - 06:00
 (06:00 GMT)

Local journalist describes active shooter scene at Tumbler Ridge

Trent Ernst, a local journalist and publisher of local news site Tumbler RidgeLines, described the early moments of the mass shooting to the CBC late Tuesday.

“I got a message on Facebook saying there were reports of an active shooter down at the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. These things occasionally happen, but I hopped in my car, grabbed my camera, went down there and discovered all the roads to the school were blocked off,” Ernst told the CBC.

“As I was down there, the emergency alert came through saying there was an active shooter event happening, so I started livestreaming from down there … While I was there, I kept getting reports that more and more places downtown were being shut down and told to shelter in place,” he said.

Ernst also saw RCMP vehicles driving quickly in the direction of a home near the town centre, where unconfirmed reports said a second shooting had taken place.

11 Feb 2026 - 05:45
 (05:45 GMT)

Tumbler Ridge student says classmates barricaded door for 2 hours

Darian Quist, a Grade 12 student at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, has told Canada’s CBC Radio West that he and other students “got tables and barricaded the doors” for more than two hours during the mass shooting until police escorted them out of the school.

Quist said that the school was small with only about 20 students in his year level.

“The reality of it all is starting to set in,” he said.

“I believe I knew somebody, but everything is still very fresh” and “almost surreal”.

“It felt like I was somewhere that I had only seen across a TV”.

He also said that the community should “hold each other close”.

“We are going to be able to get through this,” he added.

11 Feb 2026 - 05:30
 (05:30 GMT)

Canadian opposition leader condemns ‘senseless act of violence’

Pierre Poilievre, the leader of the Conservative Party, has said he was “devastated to hear of the many innocent people murdered and injured”.

“Our prayers are with the families, students, teachers, first responders, and the entire community grieving this profound loss,” Poilievre said in a post on social media

Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre [File: Patrick Doyle/Reuters]
11 Feb 2026 - 05:15
 (05:15 GMT)

Canada’s PM Carney suspends Europe trip after shooting

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney has suspended his planned trip to the Munich Security Conference, his office has said.

“Following the tragic news out of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, the prime minister will be … suspending his planned travel out of the country for the time being,” the prime minister’s office told the AFP news agency.

Carney had previously announced plans to be in Munich from Wednesday to Sunday.

Hundreds of high-ranking officials are expected to attend the conference in Germany, including other heads of state, amid increasing uncertainty during US President Donald Trump’s second term.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney [File: Jessica Lee/EPA]
11 Feb 2026 - 05:00
 (05:00 GMT)
Analysis

School shootings are rare in Canada

Here’s what we know:

  • Canada’s worst school shooting occurred in December 1989, when a gunman killed 14 female students and wounded 13 at the Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal, Quebec, before committing suicide.
  • More recently, two men were killed when a 14-year-old boy opened fire outside North Albion Collegiate Institute in June 2024.
  • Canada has stricter gun laws than its neighbour, the United States, but the occurrence of mass shootings has prompted calls for tougher control measures.