In a remote mountain town in British Columbia, Canada, a quiet Tuesday afternoon turned into a nightmare that has stunned the nation. On February 10, 2026, a mass shooting rocked Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and a connected residence, claiming 10 lives—including the suspected shooter—and injuring at least 25 others in one of the country’s most devastating attacks in recent history.

The horror began around 1:20 p.m. local time when reports of an active shooter flooded emergency lines. Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers rushed to the scene at the high school, where they discovered a chaotic and tragic situation. Six victims were found dead inside the school building, alongside the body of the suspected perpetrator, who appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. One additional victim succumbed to injuries en route to hospital, while two more bodies were later discovered at a nearby private residence believed to be linked to the incident.

What has gripped public attention—and sparked intense speculation—is the description of the suspect circulated during the crisis. An urgent public alert sent to residents’ phones described the individual as a “female in a dress with brown hair.” This unusual detail stood out, as mass shootings in North America are overwhelmingly carried out by men. Authorities later confirmed the deceased suspect matched this early eyewitness description but withheld further personal details, citing privacy and ongoing investigation needs.

Eyewitness accounts paint a chilling picture of how close many came to the danger. Students and staff barricaded themselves in classrooms for over two hours, hiding in fear as the lockdown dragged on. One Grade 12 student recounted the terror of hearing chaos unfold while locked behind doors, describing the experience as something straight out of a horror movie. Community members reported seeing or briefly encountering a woman fitting the description in the area prior to the attack—some passing her on the street, others noticing her near school grounds or the linked home. These fleeting encounters have fueled questions about how the suspect moved undetected in such a small, tight-knit community before unleashing violence.

The attack unfolded in two connected locations: the secondary school, where most casualties occurred, and a residence where additional victims were found. Police believe the sites are tied together, possibly indicating a personal motive, though no official explanation has been released yet. Superintendent Ken Floyd of the RCMP’s North District described the scene inside the school as “very dramatic,” underscoring the scale of the tragedy.

Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed deep devastation, joining Canadians in grieving for lives “changed irreversibly.” The incident has reignited debates on gun violence, even in a country with stricter firearm laws than its southern neighbor. Tumbler Ridge, a small town nestled in the Rockies, has been left reeling, with residents sheltering in place for hours as officers searched properties and ensured no further threats remained.

As the investigation continues, authorities insist there is no ongoing danger to the public. Yet the image of a woman in a dress walking among everyday people—only to become the center of unimaginable horror—lingers, a haunting reminder of how tragedy can strike anywhere. The community now faces the long road to healing, while the nation searches for answers in the aftermath of this shocking event.