KEY POINT
- Eight people died in a British Columbia school shooting, including the suspected female shooter, police said.
- Two additional victims were discovered at a nearby residence, though authorities have not yet confirmed a connection.
- The incident has intensified scrutiny over school security and firearm access in Canada.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — A British Columbia school shooting left eight people dead, including a woman police believe carried out the attack, and two additional victims were found at a nearby home, authorities said Tuesday, marking one of the deadliest incidents of gun violence in the province in recent years.
The British Columbia school shooting unfolded earlier Tuesday at a public school in a suburban community outside Vancouver, prompting a rapid law enforcement response, lockdowns and evacuations.
Police later confirmed that eight people, including the suspected shooter, were killed at the school. Two more bodies were discovered at a residence within walking distance of the campus.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police said the motive remains under investigation. Authorities did not immediately release the names or ages of the victims pending notification of families.
“This is an unthinkable tragedy for our community and for British Columbia,” said Chief Superintendent Lisa Moreau of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s Pacific Region during an afternoon news conference.
Mass shootings are relatively rare in Canada compared with the United States, though the country has experienced several high-profile incidents in recent years. The 2020 Nova Scotia attacks left twenty two people dead and prompted a national review of firearms policies.
In response, the federal government enacted new gun control measures, including restrictions on certain semi-automatic firearms and a freeze on handgun sales.
British Columbia has previously faced isolated incidents of school violence, but large-scale fatal shootings remain uncommon in the province.
The latest British Columbia school shooting has renewed debate over emergency preparedness in educational institutions and coordination between local and federal law enforcement agencies.
Public Safety Canada data show firearm related violent crime has increased modestly over the past decade, though overall homicide rates remain lower than in many other industrialized nations.
Wendy Cukier, president of the Coalition for Gun Control and a professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, said incidents such as the British Columbia school shooting often reignite national debate over firearm accessibility and enforcement.
“Canada’s gun laws are stricter than many countries, but enforcement and illegal trafficking remain significant challenges,” Cukier said. “Events like this lead to public calls for both policy review and improved mental health interventions.”
Michael Kempa, a criminologist at the University of Ottawa, said community-level prevention efforts are critical.
“School shootings in Canada are statistically rare, but preparedness protocols have evolved precisely because of past tragedies,” Kempa said.
“The response framework now involves coordinated lockdown procedures, rapid police deployment and integrated crisis counseling.”
Kempa added that investigations typically examine online activity, personal associations and potential warning signs prior to an attack.
Premier David Eby said in a statement that the province would provide support services for affected families and students.
“Our focus right now is on supporting the victims, their families and the entire school community,” Eby said. “We will work closely with law enforcement to understand exactly what happened.”
Dr. Sarah Thompson, superintendent of the affected school district, said crisis response teams were dispatched within hours.
“Our students and staff experienced profound trauma today,” Thompson said. “Counselors and mental health professionals will remain available as long as needed.”
Parents gathered outside a nearby community center where students were reunited with families after being evacuated.
“It was chaos. We just wanted to see our children safe,” said Maria Alvarez, whose teenage son attends the school. “No parent expects this to happen here.”
Investigators said they are reviewing surveillance footage, interviewing witnesses and conducting forensic analysis at both scenes. Authorities have not confirmed whether the victims at the nearby home were connected to the school or the suspected shooter.
Federal officials indicated they would assess whether any existing firearms regulations were violated. The Public Safety Ministry said it remains prepared to assist provincial authorities if requested.
Community vigils are expected in the coming days, and school district leaders said classes would be suspended temporarily while safety reviews are conducted.
The British Columbia school shooting, which left eight people dead at a school and two more at a nearby home, stands among the most serious incidents of gun violence in the province’s recent history.
As investigators work to determine motive and connections between the scenes, provincial and federal leaders face renewed questions about public safety, firearm oversight and community resilience in the aftermath of tragedy.
