A shooter killed nine people and wounded 27 others at a secondary school and a residence in the remote mountain town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, on Tuesday before taking their own life.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed the devastating attack. Two victims suffered serious injuries, while 25 sustained non-life-threatening wounds.
Police responded to an active shooter alert at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School on Tuesday afternoon. Inside, they discovered six people shot dead. A seventh victim died en route to the hospital.
Separately, two more bodies were found at a residence in the town, which police stated is "believed to be connected to the incident." The suspect was found deceased at the school with what appeared to be a self-inflicted injury.
Canadian media reported the shooter was female, but the RCMP declined to provide details on the suspect's identity.
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed devastation over the "horrific acts of violence" and suspended plans to attend the Munich Security Conference, where he was scheduled to hold talks with allies.
Student Darian Quist described being in his mechanics class when the lockdown was announced. Initially dismissing it, he later received "disturbing" photos of the carnage. Police stormed the classroom after more than two hours, ordering students to raise their hands before evacuating them.
His mother, Shelley Quist, told CBC: "He's not going to be out of my sight for a while now."
Mass shootings are extremely rare in Canada. The violence stunned Tumbler Ridge, a quiet community of roughly 2,400 residents over 1,100 kilometers north of Vancouver.
British Columbia Premier David Eby called the violence "unimaginable." The municipality stated: "There are no words sufficient for the heartbreak our community is experiencing tonight."
RCMP officers continue searching other properties for additional connected sites.
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