#JUSTIN: 18-Year-Old Accused in Canada School Shooting Had Mental Health History
18-year-old suspect with mental health history killed nine in Tumbler Ridge school shooting before being found dead.
A shocking school shooting in the remote community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, claimed the lives of nine people and left more than 25 others injured on Tuesday. Authorities confirmed that the 18-year-old suspect, who had prior mental health-related police visits, was found dead following the attack. Among the deceased were the suspect’s mother and stepbrother, discovered in a nearby home.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald said the motive remains unclear, and investigators are probing the connection between the suspect and the victims. Two critically injured individuals were airlifted for urgent medical care, highlighting the severity of the attack in the village of 2,700 residents.
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed national grief, stating, “Parents, grandparents, sisters, and brothers in Tumbler Ridge will wake up without someone they love. Canada stands by you.” Flags at government buildings will fly at half-staff for seven days, reflecting the gravity of the tragedy, Canada’s deadliest since 2020.
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Eyewitnesses recounted the chaos as students were locked down in classrooms. Shelley Quist, a local resident, said her 17-year-old son was in the library shortly before the shooter entered. “It was terrifying. We heard children crying, and we feared the worst,” she said, describing the harrowing moments before police secured the school.
British Columbia Premier David Eby confirmed that officers reached the school within two minutes of the first reports. Footage shows students evacuating with hands raised while police and a helicopter surrounded the premises. Authorities are working carefully to release victim identities, following strict protocols to notify families.
School shootings remain rare in Canada, which enforces strict gun-control laws. The incident has reignited debates over firearm regulations, even as the government recently expanded the ban on assault-style weapons. Both federal and provincial officials have promised full support to Tumbler Ridge and pledged continued investigation into the causes and circumstances of the attack.
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