Around 1:30 p.m. on 10/2, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) received reports of an active shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in the town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia.

Tumbler Ridge, a remote town with a population of about 2,400, is located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in northern British Columbia, over 1,100 km northeast of Vancouver.

The school, which serves approximately 160-175 students from grade 7 to grade 12, is considered the heart of Tumbler Ridge. Police arrived at the school within 2 minutes of the initial report, according to David Eby, the Premier of British Columbia.

Darian Quist, a grade 12 student, said he was on his way to a mechanics class at the time, and everything seemed normal. Suddenly, he heard a teacher shout in the hallway that the school was on lockdown due to a shooting.

Police outside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia, western Canada. Photo: ABC News

The suspect was described as a brown-haired woman wearing a dress. The school activated its lockdown protocol, instructing everyone to remain in place.

"Initially, I didn't think it was serious, just a request to stay put. But when we checked the news, we realized something was wrong," Quist said.

He and his classmates used desks to barricade the classroom door, preventing the shooter from entering. They also considered possible escape routes while awaiting further developments. "The atmosphere was very tense. Everyone was worried, trying to encourage each other," Quist recalled.

Quist did not hear gunshots, as the suspect appeared to be on the second floor of an adjacent building. While waiting, he received photos from friends showing blood everywhere.

Another grade 9 student recounted hiding in a classroom closet with classmates until armed police arrived and escorted students out.

Upon entering the school, officers discovered seven people deceased at the scene, including the suspect, who appeared to have died by suicide. Another victim died en route to the hospital. Two more bodies were found in a nearby house, confirmed to be connected to the shooting.

27 others were injured, including two in critical condition, making this the most severe school shooting in Canada in nearly 40 years, and the deadliest shooting incident since 2020. Mass shootings are rare in Canada, a country with stricter gun control laws than the US.

Shelley, Quist's mother, was working at a nearby hospital when she heard about the shooting. From her office, she could see police surrounding the school. A colleague had to stop her from running to the school alone to find her son.

Shelley then called her son, telling him to keep his phone on constantly.

Darian Quist (left) and his mother, Shelley Quist, speak to the media. Photo: National

Quist's class was escorted from the building by police after waiting for about two and a half hours. Shelley said she could hear police "kicking down" classroom doors. She immediately left home and went to the community center to find her son. "I hugged him very tightly."

The shooting alert was lifted at 5:46 p.m. The suspect's identity and motive have not been disclosed. Police are investigating the possibility of a second suspect. "The shooting unfolded very quickly and was complex," said Ken Floyd, a senior RCMP commander.

Speaking to the media, Quist said the gravity of the situation was just beginning to "sink in". "Everything is still so new, like fiction. It feels like I'm in a place I've only seen on TV before."

Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka said the entire community is grieving, stating he cried upon learning the death toll.

"I pray for and extend my deepest condolences to the families and friends of the victims of this horrific act of violence," said Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

British Columbia has the highest rate of gun ownership in Canada. According to government statistics, about 16% of surveyed residents in the province reported owning at least one firearm.

Duc Trung (According to CBC, Globe and Mail, National Post)