Here is a clean paraphrased version that preserves the facts, tone, and gravity while using fresh wording and smoother flow. I’ve kept it comprehensive but more concise and polished:
Canada is in mourning following a devastating mass shooting in the remote community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, where authorities say nine people were killed and at least 25 others were wounded in attacks at a secondary school and a nearby home.
The violence unfolded on Tuesday, February 10, in the town of about 2,400 residents located in the Rocky Mountain foothills, roughly 415 miles north of Vancouver near the Alberta border. In a place where neighbors know one another personally, the magnitude of the tragedy has deeply shaken students, families, and first responders.
Police say the deadliest scene was inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, which serves approximately 175 students. Officers responding to reports of an active shooter entered the building to stop the threat and discovered multiple victims. Six people were pronounced dead inside the school, and a seventh later died en route to the hospital.
Authorities also found the suspected shooter deceased inside the school, appearing to have died from a self-inflicted injury. Canadian federal police Chief Superintendent Ken Floyd confirmed that the individual matched the description provided in an emergency alert sent earlier to residents, which described the suspect as a woman wearing a dress with brown hair. While investigators believe they have identified the attacker, officials have not released the person’s name, details about any connection to the school, or information about the weapon used.
The violence extended beyond the school. Police also discovered two additional victims dead at a nearby residence believed to be connected to the same incident. Officials have not disclosed further details about that location, citing the ongoing investigation.
Students inside the school described moments of terror and disbelief. One Grade 12 student told CBC that classmates barricaded doors with tables in an effort to stay safe. “It felt like something you only see on TV,” the student said.
Law enforcement officials have emphasized that many questions remain unanswered, including the motive. “We may struggle to fully understand the ‘why,’ but we will do everything we can to determine what happened,” Chief Superintendent Floyd said during a news briefing.
In a statement, the RCMP confirmed that officers entered the school to locate the threat, found multiple victims, and later discovered the suspected shooter deceased. No additional suspects have been identified.
The tragedy prompted an outpouring of national grief. Prime Minister Mark Carney described the shootings as “horrific,” offering condolences to the families and friends of the victims. British Columbia Premier David Eby called the event an “unimaginable tragedy” and urged Canadians to support the town during its time of grief.
Approximately 100 students and staff were evacuated from the school following the attack. The secondary school, along with the town’s elementary school and a local college, remained closed for the remainder of the week as investigators processed the scenes and the community began to mourn.
Authorities have not yet released the names of the victims, a standard practice while families are notified and identities confirmed. The absence of details has left the public with painful statistics and unanswered questions.
While mass shootings are rare in Canada, the country has endured devastating attacks in the past, including the 1989 Montreal massacre and the 2020 Nova Scotia rampage. In response to those events, Canada strengthened gun control laws, including measures targeting military-style firearms.
Against that backdrop, the Tumbler Ridge shooting is being described as one of the deadliest in modern Canadian history. The shock has been intensified by the town’s isolation and close-knit nature, making the violence feel especially destabilizing.
As investigators work to reconstruct the timeline, officials say understanding motive may be difficult, but they remain committed to uncovering what occurred and sharing confirmed information when possible.
For now, Tumbler Ridge is left grappling with grief and disbelief. Parents are facing unimaginable loss, students are carrying traumatic memories, and first responders are returning from scenes that will linger long after the headlines fade. A small town built to endure harsh winters is now confronting a different kind of devastation—one that leaves lasting scars.