The alarm was received at around 1:20 p.m. local time on Tuesday. Seven people were found dead inside the school, including the suspect. Another victim died of his injuries on the way to the hospital, Canadian authorities confirmed to CBC. In addition, two people were found dead in a residence that police suspect is connected to the crime.
"I think we will have a hard time answering the question 'why', but we will do our best to determine what happened," said Ken Floyd of the police at a press conference.
Many injured
He also confirmed that the suspect found dead is the same person described in a warning message sent to residents during the incident, which described the person as a woman wearing a dress.
More than 25 people are reported to have been injured, two of whom have serious or life-threatening injuries. Floyd said police will not release the ages of the victims at this time.
Such school shootings are rare in Canada, with Tuesday's incident being described as the worst since the 1980s.
"It felt like I was somewhere I'd only seen on TV," a schoolboy who barricaded himself in a classroom for two hours told CBC.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has postponed his trip to the Munich Security Conference, which he was due to attend on Wednesday, AFP reports. Carney wrote on social media that he was "devastated" by the incident.
He wrote: "My prayers and deepest condolences go out to the families and friends who have lost their loved ones."
Staying closed
The school is located in a small community near the Alberta border and has about 160 students aged 12–18. The school in question, as well as the associated elementary school, will be closed for the rest of the week.
David Eby, regional leader for British Columbia, expressed grief on X: "The government will ensure full support for the public in the coming days, as we all try to come to terms with this unimaginable tragedy."
