10 people have been confirmed dead after an armed individual entered Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in Tumbler Ridge, Canada, before opening fire.
At least 25 people are reported to have been injured in the incident which took place in a small community of approximately 2,700 residents, which is 600 miles north of Vancouver.
The suspect, who police say died at the scene from self-inflicted wounds, has not yet been officially identified. Several news outlets have reported that he was a transgender identifying male who wore a dress at the time of the attack.
Six people were killed at the school site, and one died on the way to hospital, while two further bodies were recovered at a nearby address.
Local mayor Darryl Krakowka said the whole community is grieving after the tragedy, saying, “I broke down” when learning of the death toll. “It’s devastating,” he added.
“I probably know every one of the victims.” The Peace River South School District said earlier on Tuesday that there was a “lockdown and secure and hold” at both the secondary school and the Tumbler Ridge Elementary school.
Canadian PM, Mark Carney, said in a statement on social media that he was devastated by the shooting in Tumbler Ridge.
“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,” he wrote.
Although the suspect was later referred to as a “gun person”, police initially said that it was a woman.
RCMP Superintendent Ken Floyd told reporters that investigators had identified a female suspect but would not release a name, and that the shooter’s motive remained unclear.
“We are not in a place to understand why or what may have motivated this tragedy,” Mr Floyd said, adding that investigators had not yet confirmed how the victims were connected with the suspect.
“As part of the initial response to the active shooting, police entered the school to locate the threat. During the search, officers located multiple victims. An individual believed to be the shooter was also found deceased with what appears to be a self‑inflicted injury,” RCMP said in a statement.