The shooting occurred in the late afternoon as the school day wound down

🚨 SHOCKING NEW DETAILS: Brave 12-Year-Old Maya Gebala’s Final Moments in the Library – She Tried to Lock the Door to Save Her Classmates Before Being Shot 😢

In the heartbreaking tragedy at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, one story stands out for its incredible courage: 12-year-old Maya Gebala, an outgoing girl who loved ice hockey and her friends, reportedly rushed to lock the library door as chaos unfolded – attempting to shield others from harm.

Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia – Amid the grief enveloping this small northern community following the February 10 mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, accounts of individual bravery have begun to surface. One particularly poignant detail centers on 12-year-old Maya Gebala, who reportedly tried to lock the library door to protect her classmates as the gunman approached, before sustaining life-threatening injuries herself.

Maya remains in critical but improving condition at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, where she was airlifted after suffering multiple gunshot wounds to the head and neck. Her family describes small but encouraging signs of recovery, including slight limb movements, eye flickers, and independent breathing efforts following surgery to address a brain bleed.

The Events Unfold in the Library

The shooting occurred in the late afternoon as the school day wound down. Police confirmed the suspect, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, entered the building after earlier incidents at a private residence. Victims were found in the stairwell and primarily in the glass-enclosed library on an upper level, where younger students, including a group of 12- and 13-year-olds, had gathered.

According to Maya’s aunt, Krysta Hunt, speaking to media outlets including Global News, the Grade 7 student reacted instinctively when danger became apparent. “She tried to lock the door of the library from the shooter to save the other kids and then she tried to lock it and ran and hid under a table and [was shot],” Hunt said. Family members later clarified that Maya sustained at least three wounds: one above her left eye in the head and others in the neck area. Doctors initially focused on the head injury, leaving the neck wound for later evaluation while monitoring her response to surgery.

No official release of security footage has been made public by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and authorities have not confirmed specific details from any video evidence regarding individual actions in the library. RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald has stated that investigators are reviewing CCTV footage, witness videos, body-worn camera recordings from responding officers, and other materials as part of the ongoing probe. Police have appealed for any relevant images or footage from the public to assist.

Maya’s Background and Family’s Ordeal

Maya Gebala is remembered by relatives as outgoing, kind, and passionate about sports, particularly ice hockey. Her parents, Cia Edmonds and David Gebala, have remained at her bedside since the airlift, sharing intermittent updates through interviews and social media. In one emotional segment aired on CBC, they expressed gratitude for the national support while emphasizing their daughter’s fighting spirit.

“She’s progressing a little bit each day,” a family member relayed in updates, noting tiny independent breaths and subtle responses that offer hope despite the severity of her injuries. Doctors had prepared the family for the worst in the initial hours, but Maya’s small improvements have provided a measure of comfort. Her parents have asked for continued prayers and urged Canadians to focus on compassion rather than division in the wake of the tragedy.

The family has also voiced frustration over online commentary politicizing the event or directing anger toward the shooter’s late mother, Jennifer Strang, who was among the first victims killed at the family home.

Broader Impact and Community Response

The attack claimed eight lives: five students (including three 12-year-old girls, one 12-year-old boy, and one 13-year-old boy), education assistant Shannda Aviugana-Durand (39), Jennifer Strang (39), and her 11-year-old son Emmett. Twenty-seven others were injured, with Maya and at least one other child among the most seriously wounded. Van Rootselaar died from a self-inflicted wound as officers arrived.

Premier David Eby has pledged that students will not return to the school building, with alternative arrangements under discussion. Vigils, counseling services, and community support have mobilized across British Columbia and beyond. Families of the deceased have shared memories of bright, caring children whose futures were cut short.

RCMP continue to describe the suspect as acting alone, with no manifesto identified and motive still under investigation. Digital forensics, including online activity and gaming content, remain part of the review, though no direct ties to school bullying or external influences have been confirmed.

Maya’s reported actions in the library – attempting to secure the door and protect others – have resonated widely as an example of courage under extreme pressure. In statements, her relatives have highlighted her selflessness, noting it aligns with the kind, respectful person she was known to be.

As medical teams monitor her progress and the investigation proceeds, the story of Maya’s bravery serves as a focal point of hope amid profound sorrow. For Tumbler Ridge and the many families affected, recovery will be long, but small signs of resilience – like those from a 12-year-old fighter – offer a path forward.