In the remote mountain town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia – a tight-knit community of just 2,000 souls nestled in Canada’s rugged northeast – horror erupted on February 10, 2026, in what authorities are calling one of the deadliest school shootings in the nation’s history. Eight people lost their lives in a rampage that began at a family home and exploded into Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, leaving dozens wounded and a stunned province reeling from grief.

The nightmare unfolded with terrifying speed around 1:20 p.m. local time, when Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) received frantic reports of an active shooter at the local high school. Officers rushed in within minutes, exchanging fire with the suspect before storming the building to discover a scene of unimaginable carnage: bodies strewn across hallways and the library, blood pooling on floors, survivors screaming and hiding under desks or in closets. Six victims – five students aged 12 to 13 and a 39-year-old female teacher – were pronounced dead at the school. Two more bodies, believed to be the suspect’s mother and 11-year-old stepbrother, were later found at a nearby residence tied to the attacker.

The suspected gunman, identified as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, was discovered deceased inside the school from what police describe as a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities confirmed the suspect had a history of mental health interactions with law enforcement, though the exact motive remains under intense investigation. No manifesto or clear explanation has surfaced yet, leaving families, friends, and the wider Canadian public grasping for answers in the wake of such senseless violence.

Survivors and witnesses have painted a picture of chaos that unfolded in mere minutes – a blur of terror too fast for the mind to process. One eyewitness, a student who escaped the initial barrage, recounted the horror in raw detail: “Everything happened so fast, I hadn’t even figured out what was going on when I heard the crowd screaming and saw people falling down, along with multiple gunshots in quick succession.” The teen described the sudden eruption of gunfire echoing through corridors, classmates dropping amid panicked cries, and the desperate scramble for exits or cover. “It was like the world exploded,” the witness added, voice trembling. “One second we were in class or lunch, the next everything was screams and blood.”

Another survivor, a teacher barricaded in a nearby classroom, told reporters the shots came in rapid bursts – “bang, bang, bang” – without warning. Students ran in every direction, some tripping over fallen friends, others dragging injured classmates to safety. The library, where several victims were found, became ground zero: bookshelves riddled with bullets, study tables overturned, young lives cut short in what should have been a safe haven for learning.

More than 25 others were wounded, including two in life-threatening condition – among them a 12-year-old girl fighting for survival in hospital. First responders described scenes of heartbreaking triage: blood-soaked hallways, children in shock clutching wounds, educators shielding students with their bodies. The swift police response – officers entering despite active fire – likely prevented an even higher toll, though the speed of the attack left little time for prevention.

Tumbler Ridge, a former coal-mining hub turned quiet residential community, has been plunged into collective mourning. Thursday, February 12, was declared a provincial day of mourning in British Columbia, with flags at half-mast and vigils planned across the province. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed national shock, calling it a “dark day” for Canada and vowing support for the grieving families. “Our hearts are with the victims, their loved ones, and the entire Tumbler Ridge community,” he said in a statement. Public Safety Minister described the incident as one of the worst mass shootings in recent Canadian memory, underscoring the rarity and devastation of such events in a country with strict gun laws.

The suspect’s path to violence appears rooted in personal turmoil. Reports indicate prior police visits to the home for mental health concerns, though details remain limited. The double homicide at the residence – the suspect’s mother and young stepbrother – suggests the rampage may have begun as a domestic tragedy before spilling into the school. Investigators are piecing together timelines, examining seized devices, and interviewing survivors to uncover any warning signs missed or ignored.

Community leaders have rallied, with counselors flooding the school and town hall to support traumatized students and parents. “This is a small place where everyone knows everyone,” one resident told reporters. “These kids were our future. Now we’re burying them.” Fundraising efforts have surged online, with donations pouring in for victim families and mental health resources.

As Canada grapples with yet another scar from gun violence – rare but profoundly shocking in a nation that prides itself on safety – questions loom large: How did warning signs go unheeded? Could intervention have stopped the bloodshed? What drives a teenager to such destruction? The RCMP continues its probe, promising transparency while urging patience amid the grief.

For now, Tumbler Ridge weeps. Eight lives stolen too soon – bright young students dreaming of futures, a dedicated teacher protecting her charges, family members caught in a storm of rage. The witness’s words echo across the nation: everything happened so fast. Too fast to save them. Too fast to comprehend. And in that blinding speed, a community – and a country – was forever changed.

The healing will be long. The questions, endless. But the memory of those lost will endure, a stark reminder that even in the quietest corners, evil can strike without mercy.