Article By Leena Nasir
A rural community in British Columbia, Canada, is reeling after a shooter allegedly opened fire inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School Tuesday, reportedly killing nine and injuring dozens.
The suspect died from what’s being described as a “self-inflicted injury,” according to CBC News.
Police had characterized the suspect as “a woman in a dress with brown hair” in a Tuesday alert, CBC News reported Wednesday.
Nine people were confirmed dead, and at least 25 others were injured, the outlet reported.
Six of the victims were found dead inside the school, and one other died during transport to a local hospital, according to CBC News. Two individuals were found dead in a home, which police believe is linked to the school shooting. The ages and identities of the victims have not been released.
An active shooter call forced the entire community of 2,000 people into lockdown at about 1:20 p.m. Tuesday, preventing parents from going to the school to check on their children, according to Global News.
B.C.’s Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Nina Krieger called this “one of the worst mass shootings in our province’s and country’s history.”
“The people of Tumbler Ridge remain in a state of crisis,” Krieger said.
“This is a devastating day for close knit community, and the loss being felt is profound. There are truly no words,” she continued.
Krieger thanked law enforcement officials and first responders on-scene.
“I would like to thank the RCMP officers who were on the scene within two minutes of receiving the call,” she said. “That speed and professionalism saved lives today. I would also like to thank paramedics, firefighters, health care workers, victim services staff and all first responders who acted immediately to support this community in an unimaginable, unimaginably horrific moment.”
The active shooter alert was reportedly lifted at 5:45 p.m.
A Grade 12 Tumbler Ridge student said he was locked down for more than two hours behind barricaded doors. (RELATED: Officials Detain, Release Individual For Questioning In Nancy Guthrie Case)
“It felt like I was somewhere that I had only seen across a TV,” he told CBC News.
Officers said they will “struggle” to determine a motive for what is now one of the deadliest school shootings in the country’s history, CBC News reported.
Tumbler Ridge Secondary School offers classes and extracurricular activities to students in grades 7 through 12.
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