Authorities say the 18-year-old suspect in a mass shooting in rural British Columbia had been the subject of several police visits in recent years related to mental health concerns. The attack in Tumbler Ridge left eight people dead, including six children, and more than two dozen injured. The suspect was found dead at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators are still working to determine the motive and how the firearms were obtained.
The tragedy has prompted a province-wide day of mourning and renewed scrutiny of mental health interventions and firearm access.
Victims and Community Impact
The shooting unfolded at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where five students aged 12 to 13 and a 39-year-old teacher were killed. At least 25 others were injured, with two young victims remaining in critical but stable condition.
Two additional victims — the suspect’s 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother — were found dead at a nearby residence, where authorities believe the attack began. Tumbler Ridge, a community of approximately 2,400 residents, has been left shaken by the scale of the violence.
Prior Mental Health Interventions
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the suspect had previously been apprehended and assessed under British Columbia’s Mental Health Act. Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald stated that officers had visited the family home on multiple occasions over several years due to concerns about the suspect’s mental health.
Provincial officials have indicated they are reviewing interactions between the suspect and the public healthcare system to better understand the sequence of events leading up to the incident.
Firearms and Licensing Questions
Police confirmed that firearms had previously been seized from the suspect’s home roughly two years ago. A family member later successfully petitioned to have the guns returned. At the scene, investigators recovered two firearms — a long gun and a modified handgun. Authorities have not clarified who owned the weapons used in the attack or how the suspect accessed them.
The suspect had previously held a firearms licence, though it remains unclear whether that licence was active at the time of the shooting.
Background and Investigation
Investigators noted that the suspect had dropped out of school four years earlier. Court documents from a separate legal matter indicate the family experienced frequent relocations between provinces over several years. Authorities have not publicly identified a motive.
Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to visit the community in the coming days. British Columbia has declared a provincial day of mourning, and hundreds gathered for moments of silence in Tumbler Ridge and at the provincial legislature in Victoria.
Conclusion
The Tumbler Ridge shooting represents one of the most devastating incidents in the region’s history. As investigators continue to examine the suspect’s background, mental health history and firearm access, officials face complex questions about prevention, intervention and community safety. The province now enters a period of mourning as residents seek answers and begin the process of recovery.