🌟 A TRUE HERO AMONG US: 12-year-old Abel Mwansa didn’t run away from danger — he ran TOWARD it to save his classmates.

In the terrifying moments inside the Tumbler Ridge school library, this sweet, science-loving boy with the biggest smile shouted for everyone to get out, helped guide his friends to safety, and even tried to shield one more kid as the horror unfolded. His dad calls him a hero. His friends say he was always the first to help, always kind, always respectful.

But the part that breaks every heart? The quiet, everyday words he said to his mom that morning before leaving for school… words that now feel like a final goodbye no one saw coming.

This little boy’s courage in the face of unimaginable fear is something we’ll never forget. In a tragedy that took so many lives, Abel’s story of bravery shines through the pain.

If stories of real heroes move you, read the full tribute from his family, friends, and classmates — it’s emotional, it’s inspiring, and it’s real.🕊️💙

As the small northern community of Tumbler Ridge continues to mourn the loss of eight lives in last week’s school shooting, one young victim’s name has emerged as a symbol of extraordinary courage under fire. Twelve-year-old Abel Mwansa is being remembered by family, classmates, and friends as a boy who instinctively tried to protect others during the deadly attack at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School on February 10.

The shooting, carried out by 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, began at the suspect’s family home, where she killed her mother, Jennifer Jacobs, 39, and her 11-year-old half-brother, Emmett Jacobs. Van Rootselaar then proceeded to the school, where she fatally shot six students and one staff member before taking her own life as officers closed in. Twenty-five others were injured in the rampage.

Abel, a Grade 7 student who had moved to Canada from Zambia with his family in 2023, was among the victims in the school library. According to accounts shared by his father, Abel Mwansa Sr., and corroborated by surviving classmates, Abel did not freeze or hide when the gunfire began. Instead, he actively worked to help those around him.

Mwansa Sr., a pastor, told CBC News that children who were in the library with Abel described him shouting instructions to run and escape through available exits. “He was urging others to run during the chaos,” the father recounted. One particularly poignant detail came from Abel’s sister, who relayed that her brother attempted to shield another child during the attack. “My daughter came crying saying that Abel was trying to save a kid and died in the process,” Mwansa Sr. said. “My daughter said Abel died as a hero.”

Close family friend Lydia Mannion reinforced this image, telling reporters that Abel was “helping his friends” in the moments before he was fatally wounded. The boy’s actions stand in stark contrast to the terror that gripped the school, where students dove under desks and barricaded doors in desperate attempts to survive.

Beyond the final moments, those who knew Abel paint a picture of a consistently kind and thoughtful child. His father described him as patient, respectful, and always quick with a genuine smile. Abel loved science experiments, dreamed of becoming an engineer or scientist, and excelled at soccer. He was deeply involved in church youth activities and Sunday school, where he was seen as a responsible and positive influence.

One especially touching memory shared by Mwansa Sr. involves Abel’s routine goodbye to his mother that morning. Around 8:20 a.m., as he left for school with his backpack, he asked her to remind his father to pick him up later from church youth group. Those simple, everyday words — now remembered as his last conversation with his mom — have brought fresh waves of grief to the family.

In a Facebook post that has been widely shared, Mwansa Sr. wrote: “If I had the power to bring life back, I would bring you and everyone who was taken with you… but my power is limited.” He added that knowing Abel brought joy and smiles to others gives him some strength amid the pain.

The Mwansa family has received an outpouring of support from friends in Zambia, local church communities, and people across Canada. Pastor Christopher Bwalya, who knew Abel back home, remembered him as a boy who grew from a playful kindergarten student into a respectful young leader admired by peers.

Abel was one of five Grade 7 and 8 students killed, alongside Kylie Smith (12), Zoey Benoit (12), Ticaria Lampert (12), and Ezekiel Schofield (13). Educational assistant Shannda Aviugana-Durand, 39, also perished while trying to protect students. The RCMP released the victims’ names several days after the attack to allow families private time to grieve.

Community response has included multiple vigils, with Prime Minister Mark Carney attending one to express national condolences. Temporary classrooms are being arranged so students can resume learning away from the damaged school building. Tributes to Abel frequently highlight his helpful nature, his love of learning, and his bright personality.

As the investigation into Van Rootselaar’s motives continues — including examination of any online activity or prior indicators — many in Tumbler Ridge are choosing to focus on celebrating the lives lost rather than dwelling solely on the violence. Abel’s story of attempted heroism has resonated deeply, offering a narrative of selflessness amid profound tragedy.

For his father, preserving Abel’s memory as “a good boy” who cared for others is paramount. “Whenever you saw him, you saw his smile,” Mwansa Sr. said. In a town scarred by February 10, that smile — and the courage it represented — continues to inspire those left behind.