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'Two minutes': B.C. premier highlights rapid police response in Tumbler Ridge school shooting

Kenneth Chan
Kenneth Chan
|
Feb 11 2026, 6:02 am
'Two minutes': B.C. premier highlights rapid police response in Tumbler Ridge school shooting
B.C. Premier David Eb (left) and B.C. Public Safety and Solicitor General Nina Krieger (right) during a press conference reacting to the Tumbler Ridge shooting on Feb. 10, 2026. (Government of BC)

British Columbia Premier David Eby and Public Safety and Solicitor General Nina Krieger said the provincial government is mobilizing extensive supports for the small northeastern B.C. community of Tumbler Ridge, following a mass shooting at a public school on Tuesday that left at least 10 people dead and dozens more injured — an incident they described as one of the worst tragedies of its kind in provincial and national history.

Speaking at a press conference that began shortly after 8 p.m. PST, Premier Eby said he was still receiving updates from BC RCMP leadership and had also spoken with Prime Minister Mark Carney about the unfolding situation.

He reaffirmed the police’s latest update earlier this evening.

Seven of the victims died at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School — including the individual believed to be the shooter, who died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. One of the three victims who sustained serious life-threatening injuries died during transport to the hospital.

An additional two people were found deceased at a home, with police saying they believe their deaths were related to the incident.

Approximately 25 people were triaged by the town’s health authorities for injuries ranging from minor to serious, but not life-threatening.

The identities of the victims and suspect have not been released at this early stage of the investigation, and as the process of notifying the next of kin continues.

“This is a devastating and unimaginable tragedy,” said Eby.

“We can’t imagine what the community is going through, but I know it’s causing us all to hug our kids a bit tighter tonight.”

“It’s heroic work,” says Eby on rapid police response

Police say the first emergency call came in shortly after 1:20 p.m. PST.

According to Eby, police were at the school within two minutes of receiving the emergency call. He thanked the officers who quickly put themselves in harm’s way.

“That speed and professionalism saved lives today. I would also like to thank paramedics, firefighters, healthcare workers, victim services staff and all first responders who acted immediately to support this community in an unimaginably horrific moment,” said the premier.

“That fast response time to the school meant that what was already quite a devastating tragedy was prevented from being significantly worse. And as a police officer attending a shooting scene like that, you’re putting yourself at risk to protect the lives of other people. And it’s heroic work. And I am very grateful that the police responded so quickly and so fearlessly and executed their training to protect as many people as possible at the school today.”

RCMP officials said about 100 people were safely evacuated from the school.

It should be noted that the RCMP detachment in this close-knit community is only about two blocks away from the school.

He said details remained limited as police continued their work on the ground and focused on notifying families and supporting those directly affected. The RCMP, he said, had asked for patience while investigators methodically worked to understand what happened and to ensure families were being cared for.

tumbler ridge secondary school bc

Location of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in B.C. (Google Maps)

Provincial resources being urgently deployed to assist community

Eby urged British Columbians and Canadians to show compassion and solidarity with the people of Tumbler Ridge. He also said the provincial government would make sure resources were available and were already being deployed to support the community.

Minister Krieger said that while the RCMP emergency alert had been lifted, the community of about 2,400 residents remained in crisis and was grappling with profound loss.

“The people of Tumbler Ridge remain in a state of crisis following one of the worst mass shootings in our province’s and country’s history,” said Krieger.

“There are truly no words that can adequately describe the pain being carried tonight by parents, families and loved ones of the victims.”

Krieger outlined a series of mental health and trauma supports being deployed to the community. She said B.C. Ministry of Education staff had been in contact with the local school district, and that trauma and crisis response teams were being mobilized. She also said services would be made available to members of the broader community who needed help.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith offered emergency health-care services at Grand Prairie

Eby also acknowledged and thanked Alberta Premier Danielle Smith for her outreach and offer to provide victims with the health care they need at the larger hospital facilities in neighbouring Alberta.

Tumbler Ridge has a small local medical clinic located immediately adjacent to the secondary school where the main shooting incident occurred. It has been triaging victims, with individuals with very serious injuries airlifted to larger healthcare facilities.

“I had the opportunity to speak with Premier Smith in Alberta, who had offered assistance through health care in Alberta,” said Eby.

“Tumble Ridge is close to the border, and a major regional health-care centre is there in Grand Prairie, and [I’m] very grateful to the Albertans who offered to step up and provide support in this moment as well.”

In recent months, residents and municipal officials have protested major cuts to the clinic’s emergency department service levels and the town’s ambulance services.

Police and emergency services have not said where those with the most serious injuries have been taken.

“My thoughts are with everyone affected by the devastating shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia today,” said Premier Smith in a post on X this evening.

“I can only imagine the absolute devastation that the students, families, staff, and entire community must be feeling right now. To the families grieving, the friends and classmates who are also impacted, and the first responders on the ground — know that Alberta and the whole of Canada is thinking of you and our hearts go out to you and your community.”

tumbler ridge secondary school bc

Location of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in B.C. (Google Maps)

“I join Canadians in grieving,” says Prime Minister Mark Carney

Eby said he is expected to travel to Tumbler Ridge as soon as possible to visit the community and offer support. He noted that police were still in the process of notifying families and next of kin and, for that reason, had not yet released details about the victims. He said more information would be shared by the RCMP when appropriate and when families had been informed.

The premier also confirmed he had spoken with Prime Minister Carney, who conveyed his grief and devastation over what the community was facing and offered federal assistance.

“I am devastated by today’s horrific shootings in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. My prayers and deepest condolences are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones to these horrific acts of violence. I join Canadians in grieving with those whose lives have been changed irreversibly today, and in gratitude for the courage and selflessness of the first responders who risked their lives to protect their fellow citizens,” said Carney in a post on X this evening.

“Our ability to come together in crisis is the best of our country — our empathy, our unity, and our compassion for each other. I have connected with Premier Eby to express my condolences, and with the minister of public safety, Gary Anandasangaree, who is coordinating the federal response. Our officials are in close contact with their counterparts to ensure the community is fully supported as best we can. The Government of Canada stands with all British Columbians as they confront this horrible tragedy.”

Tuesday’s incident is among the deadliest mass shootings and/or mass attacks in Canadian history. It follows the April 2025 incident in Vancouver when a man drove an SUV through a crowd during the Filipino community’s Lapu Lapu Day Festival, killing 11 people and injuring dozens.

A stabbing spree in and around the Saskatchewan community of Weldon left 10 people dead and many more injured in 2022, while the deadliest attack in Canadian history occurred in Nova Scotia in 2022, when 22 died in multiple communities. A Toronto van attack in 2018 killed 11 people and injured many others.

Another major incident was the 1989 Ecole Polytechnique massacre in Montreal that killed 14 women.

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