Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney offered words of solidarity to a grief-stricken community Friday, February 11, 2026, following a mass shooting that left eight people dead, including the attacker. The small mining town is reeling after the tragedy unfolded at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and a nearby residence.
A Nation Mourns After School Shooting
The shooting is one of the deadliest attacks in Canadian history, prompting an outpouring of support and a rare display of unity among political leaders.
- An 18-year-old transgender woman opened fire at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School on Tuesday.
- Five students and one teacher were killed at the school, along with the shooter’s mother and stepbrother.
- Prime Minister Carney and opposition leader Pierre Poilievre stood side-by-side at a candlelight vigil, offering comfort to the community.
- Two individuals remain hospitalized with gunshot wounds.
What is the current situation in Tumbler Ridge? The town is in mourning after a tragic shooting at the local secondary school and a residence claimed eight lives, including the shooter. Community members are gathering to support one another, and leaders are pledging assistance.
“I know that nothing I can say will bring your children home,” Carney told nearly 2,000 people gathered for a candlelight vigil, their faces illuminated by flickering flames. “I know that no words from me or anyone can fill the silence in your homes tonight, and I won’t pretend otherwise.”
The tragedy began Tuesday when an 18-year-old transgender woman opened fire at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, killing five students and a teacher. Prior to the school shooting, the attacker fatally shot her mother and stepbrother at their home. Authorities have identified the victims from the school as Kylie Smith, Abel Mwansa, Zoey Benoit, Ticaria Lampert, Ezekiel Schofield, and educator Shannda Aviugana-Durand.
Maya Gebala, 12, who sustained gunshot wounds to the head and neck, and Paige Hoekstra, 19, also injured by gunfire, are currently hospitalized in Vancouver.
The prime minister, standing hand-in-hand with opposition leader Pierre Poilievre, was flanked by First Nations chiefs and local officials during the vigil. The unusual display of unity came after the two leaders met earlier in the day with the families of the victims, both visibly moved by the encounters.
“Today, there are no Conservatives. There are no Liberals, New Democrats, Greens or Bloc Quebecois,” Poilievre stated. “We are all just mothers and fathers. We all watch our kids going to school, expecting them to come back to us.” Poilievre praised Carney’s “tremendous grace,” and the two leaders joined hands as an Indigenous leader offered a prayer outside the town hall.
British Columbia Premier David Eby lauded the heroism displayed by residents, specifically mentioning a teacher who barricaded students in a classroom, even though his own son had briefly left the room. Eby also credited older students with comforting and protecting their younger peers. He assured students that they would not be forced to return to the school, promising a safe alternative learning environment.
Dwayne McDonald, the deputy commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in British Columbia, stated Friday that the suspect did not appear to be targeting specific individuals at the school. “This suspect was, for lack of a better term, hunting,” McDonald explained. “They were prepared and engaging anybody and everybody they could come in contact with.”
McDonald described a chaotic scene upon police arrival, with fire alarms blaring and a person yelling from a window about the shooter’s location. “They entered the school, proceeded to go up the stairwell, and were met with gunfire,” he said. “It was a matter of seconds after that there was more gunfire, not as we know now, having reviewed video, directed at any persons. Then the suspect took their life.”
Mayor Darryl Krakowka urged the community to support one another, acknowledging the difficulty of returning to normalcy in the days ahead. However, he expressed confidence in the town’s resilience. “Tumbler Ridge has been shaken, but not broken.”
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