10 dead, including suspect, in Tumbler Ridge shootings

10 dead in shootings

UPDATE: 10:48 p.m.

Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka says the whole community is grieving after Tuesday’s fatal shootings at a high school and a local residence.

"I broke down," Krakowka said, when he was asked about learning how many had died. "It's devastating."

"I have lived here for 18 years," he said of the community that he called a "big family" of about 2,700 residents.

"I probably know every one of the victims.”

Police said they received a call at about 1:20 p.m. reporting an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Responding officers found multiple victims in the school. An individual believed to be the shooter was found dead of a self-inflicted injury.

A total of 10 people are dead, including nine victims and the suspect. Two of these victims were found deceased in a Tumbler Ridge home. Police said they believe this secondary location is connected to the school shooting.

Mounties said two people were airlifted from the school to hospital with serious injuries, and 25 more are being assessed and triaged at the local medical centre with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said they believe they have identified a suspect, but have not yet released information about the individual. They also have not yet confirmed details about the victims’ ages, or whether any of the victims had any relation with the shooter.

Brian Twaites, paramedic public information officer, said BC Emergency Health Services received an initial call just after 1:20 p.m., and dispatched paramedics in ground and air ambulances to the scene.

“Paramedics provided emergency medical treatment to two patients who were transported by air ambulance to hospital, one in critical condition and one in serious but stable condition,” Twaites said in a statement.

“Paramedics also provided care and assessment to a number of other people at the scene who did not require hospital transport.”

Twaites said additional services are being offered to the community through the province’s Disaster Psychological Support team, reinforcing supports offered through the local school district and RCMP Victim Services.

“We commend all the paramedics, RCMP members, health-care professionals and others who courageously responded to this event,” Twaites said. “We will be doing everything we can to provide our employees who were directly involved with this response all the support they need.”

'Beyond devastating'

B.C. Premier David Eby said he expects to be in Tumbler Ridge in the coming days to visit the community, with the province promising health and policing supports.

Larry Neufeld, MLA for Peace River South, which includes Tumbler Ridge, said he was devastated.

"I don't know that my thoughts and prayers are enough for the people of Tumbler Ridge. I have given them everything I have in that respect and I only wish I had a hundred times more to give, but it would never be enough. It's beyond devastating,” Neufeld said.

A statement from the District of Tumbler Ridge encouraged people to rely only on official statements for updates.

"We are grateful for the swift response of local emergency services and first responders. Additional supports are already here or on their way to assist the community," the statement says.

"In the days ahead, we know this will be difficult for many to process. Please check in on one another, lean on available supports, and know that Tumbler Ridge is a strong and caring community. We will get through this together.”

Both Tumbler Ridge secondary and elementary schools will be closed for the rest of the week.

-With files from The Canadian Press

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UPDATE: 9:05 p.m.

B.C.’s public safety minister says Tumbler Ridge was shaken on Tuesday by “one of the worst mass shootings in our province’s and country’s history.”

In a news conference Tuesday night, hours after the fatal shooting took place in the northern B.C. community, Nina Krieger thanked first responders who quickly responded to the crisis.

“I would like to thank the RCMP officers who were on the scene within two minutes of receiving the call,” Krieger said. “That speed and professionalism saved lives today.”

RCMP said police received a call at about 1:20 p.m. reporting an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Responding officers found multiple victims in the school. An individual believed to be the shooter was found dead of a self-inflicted injury.

A total of 10 people are dead, including nine victims and a suspect. Two of these victims were found deceased in a Tumbler Ridge home. Police said they believe this secondary location is connected to the school shooting.

Mounties said two people have been airlifted from the school to hospital with serious injuries, and 25 more are being assessed and triaged at the local medical centre with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said they believe they have identified a suspect, but have not yet released information about the individual.

They also have not confirmed details about the ages of the victims, or whether any of the victims had any relation with the shooter.

Premier David Eby said current information is limited as police do their work, noting officers are still speaking with the families and relatives of the victims.

"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,” Eby said.

Both Tumbler Ridge secondary and elementary schools will be closed for the rest of the week.

Premier promises support

The premier said he expects to be in Tumbler Ridge in the coming days to visit the community.

“It’s hard to know what to say on a night like tonight. This is the kind of thing that feels like it happens in other places and not close to home,” Eby told reporters on Tuesday.

He asked British Columbians to look after each other, and committed to providing resources for the small northern community.

Eby said he’s talked with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who offered health care supports from the closest regional health care centre in Grande Prairie.

Krieger said the provincial education ministry is in contact with the school district and mobilizing trauma and crisis response supports. She said trauma-informed counsellors are being sent to help kids and families, and psychiatric liaison nurses will be working through the night in Tumbler Ridge.

She said the province will ensure policing resources are made available to support the investigation.

Carney postpones trip

Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement on Tuesday night addressing the tragedy, saying federal officials are in close contact with their counterparts to ensure Tumbler Ridge receives support.

Carney has postponed a planned trip to Europe following the deadly shooting.

“My prayers and deepest condolences are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones to these horrific acts of violence,” Carney said in a statement.

“I join Canadians in grieving with those whose lives have been changed irreversibly today, and in gratitude for the courage and selflessness of the first responders who risked their lives to protect their fellow citizens.”

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UPDATE: 7:38 p.m.

Mounties say they have identified a suspect in connection with fatal shootings that rocked a Northern B.C. community on Tuesday, but are not yet releasing any details about the individual or the victims.

Police said they received a call at about 1:20 p.m. reporting an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.

Officers said they found multiple victims in the school, and later identified a secondary location believed to be connected to the shooting, where two additional victims were found deceased in a home.

A total of 10 people are dead, including nine victims and the suspect. About two dozen more were found injured.

Few further details were released in a news conference held Tuesday evening. RCMP Supt. Ken Floyd, North District commander, said police are “still trying to determine a lot about the shooter at this stage.”

“Right now, we believe we've been able to identify the shooter, but for privacy reasons, and obviously for the conduct of investigation, we're not releasing that information at that time, until we're assured that we've connected with the appropriate people,” Floyd said.

He wouldn’t say if the shooter was an adult or a young person, noting this information won’t be released until the next of kin and families are notified.

An emergency alert sent out Tuesday afternoon across the region described the suspect as a female in a dress with brown hair. Floyd confirmed the shooter was the same suspect described in the emergency alert.

No details yet on victims

The police superintendent did not say how many children or adults were among the deceased, or if any of the victims had any relation with the suspected shooter.

“We will have answers to that in the coming days, to be able to provide everyone who's got questions about the nature of the injuries, the nature of the persons involved,” Floyd said.

Floyd said police are “following all leads” to try and determine any connections with the shooter.

“I think we will struggle to determine the why, but we're going to try and do our best to determine what transpired that day and what led up to this tragic event in Tumbler Ridge and across our communities,” Floyd said.

When asked about the weapon used in the killing, Floyd said police are still investigating the nature of the victims’ injuries and “the weapons that may or may not have been involved.”

He said police are also still trying to determine the connection between the two people found dead in a separate residence and the shooting at the secondary school.

Police found 'dramatic' scene

RCMP said six individuals, not including the suspect, were located dead inside the school. Another victim died while being transported to hospital. Two additional victims were airlifted to hospital with serious injuries, and about 25 others are being assessed and triaged at the local medical centre for non-life-threatening injuries.

Floyd said the actions of the healthcare professionals at the local clinic prevented “a far worse outcome” for those injured.

“The scene was very dramatic, and there were multiple victims that are still being cared for,” Floyd said.

He said about 100 people were safely evacuated from the secondary school.

Floyd said several supports will be arriving in Tumbler Ridge to help students, teachers, and the rest of the community, and police are “committed to providing more answers.”

“We are in this together. The RCMP will be part of this healing, because we’re part of the Tumbler Ridge community, and we will be there through all of this together,” he said.

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UPDATE 6:15 p.m.

A total of 10 people are dead, nine victims and a suspect, after shootings at a high school and home in Tumbler Ridge.

RCMP said they were called Tuesday at 1:20 p.m. for an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. An emergency alert was issued across the region, which has since been lifted.

Officers arriving at the school located multiple victims, Mounties said in a news release. An individual believed to be the shooter was found dead of what police said was a self-inflicted injury.

According to police, six individuals, not including the suspect, were located dead inside the school. Another victim died while being transported to hospital.

Two additional victims were airlifted to hospital from the school with serious injuries.

“Approximately 25 others are being assessed and triaged at the local medical centre for non-life-threatening injuries,” reads an RCMP news release issued at 6 p.m.

Second location

Police say they have identified a secondary location believed to be connected to the school shooting, where two additional victims were located deceased in a home.

“Officers are conducting further searches of additional homes and properties to determine whether anyone else may be injured or otherwise linked to today’s events,” Mounties said.

Students and staff are now out of Tumbler Ridge secondary and police are working closely with the school district to support a coordinated reunification for families.

Additional RCMP resources will be deployed into the community to support the response and investigation.

“This was a rapidly evolving and dynamic situation, and the swift cooperation from the school, first responders, and the community played a critical role in our response,” RCMP Supt. Ken Floyd said in the statement

“Our thoughts are with the families, loved ones, and all those impacted by this tragic incident. This has been an incredibly difficult and emotional day for our community, and we are grateful for the cooperation shown as officers continue their work to advance the investigation.”

Floyd will answer questions from reporters at 6:45 p.m.

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UPDATE 5:50 p.m.

The District of Tumbler Ridge has issued a statement saying its community experienced "a deeply distressing incident" on Tuesday, and as the situation was still unfolding, it was asking residents to rely on official updates from the RCMP and emergency authorities.

It said supports were already in the community or on the way.

“In the days ahead, we know this will be difficult for many to process. Please check in on one another, lean on available supports, and know that Tumbler Ridge is a strong and caring community. We will get through this together," read the statement.”

There are still no details on the number of victims related to the shooting with the RCMP only confirming there are "multiple."

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UPDTE 5:20 p.m.

RCMP say there are "multiple victims" in a shooting at the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia's Peace region.

RCMP Staff Sgt. Kris Clark confirms in a text message that there are victims in what police have called an "active shooter" situation, however he couldn't say how many people are involved or the extent of their injuries.

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UPDATE 4:50 p.m.

While the "original suspect" is believed to be dead, RCMP in Tumbler Ridge have not yet said how many people have been hurt in an shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.

Officers are still working to determine whether a second suspect is involved.

They say residents in Tumbler Ridge are asked to stay inside as additional police resources are being deployed to the area from neighbouring detachments.

RCMP say that no one should approach a potential suspect and should call 911.

A worker at Joe's Pizza Stone, not far from the school, said she had received a text alert telling residents to shelter in place at about 3:15 p.m.

The Peace River South School District said Tuesday that there was a the "lockdown and secure and hold" at both the secondary school and the Tumbler Ridge Elementary school.

Larry Neufeld, the member of the legislature for Peace River South, told reporters at the legislature that an "excess" of resources, including RCMP and ambulance support, have been sent to the community.

He said he didn't want to release any more information over concerns that it might jeopardize the safety of the ongoing operation.

He urged those in the community to stay where they are.

"We do understand that a few folks are out looking for loved ones, and again, please, please go back to your homes and shelter in place and allow the amazing people of the RCMP to make this community, this beautiful community, safe again," he said.

Neufeld said in an earlier statement that he had been in direct contact with the solicitor general to receive updates and to ensure all necessary provincial resources were "being made available to support local law enforcement and emergency responders."

The provincial government website lists Tumbler Ridge Secondary School as having 175 students from Grades 7 to 12.

The Canadian Press

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ORIGINAL 3:40 p.m.

RCMP in the small, northern B.C. town of Tumbler Ridge have issued an emergency alert for the community due to an active shooter incident at a school.

“As of 1:20 p.m., the Tumbler Ridge RCMP are currently on scene of a confirmed active shooter incident at the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School,” said the RCMP in a news release.

“Those in the Tumbler Ridge area are asked to stay inside (shelter in place), lock your doors and refrain from leaving your home or business at this time. “

According to the news release, the original suspect in the active shooter incident at the school is believed to have been found dead. The suspect was originally described in the emergency alert as a female in a dress.

"Work continues to determine whether a second suspect was involved and the total number of victims involved,” said the RCMP.

Additional police resources are being deployed to the area from neighbouring detachments, along with the North District Emergency Response Team.

“We have no confirmation at this time on the number of individuals injured or requiring assistance,” added Mounties in Tumbler Ridge.

Larry Neufeld, MLA for Peace River South, said in a statement he is leaving Victoria to head back to his riding immediately.

"Public safety is the absolute priority. I urge everyone in the area to follow RCMP instructions, remain sheltered, and rely only on official updates," he said.

Tumbler Ridge is located approximately 300 kilometres northeast of Prince George.