King Charles has conveyed his deep sorrow and shock following the tragic mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, marking one of the deadliest incidents of its kind in Canada. The monarch described the event as a ‘senseless act of brutal violence.’

In a horrifying turn of events on Wednesday morning, a gunman opened fire at the school and its residence, resulting in the deaths of at least nine individuals and injuring many others before the assailant ended their own life.

As the reigning monarch of Canada, King Charles issued a heartfelt message, stating, “My wife and I were profoundly shocked and saddened to learn of the dreadful attack at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia.”

The King expressed his deepest condolences, saying, “Our hearts go out to the families enduring the unimaginable loss of their loved ones and to those anxiously awaiting updates from the hospital.”

He acknowledged the close-knit nature of the community, noting, “In such a connected town, every child is known by name, and every family is a neighbor.”

“We can only begin to comprehend the devastating impact this act of violence has cast over Tumbler Ridge, and our thoughts are with all those whose lives have been shattered,” the King added.

‘I very much wish to thank the town’s police and staff at the health centre for their courage as first responders, and all those across British Columbia who have helped in every way they have.

‘In sending our most heartfelt condolences, my wife and I stand in solidarity with the people of Tumbler Ridge and all Canadians as they seek understanding, healing and strength.’

The message was signed Charles R.

The King has expressed his profound ‘shock and sadness’ at the ‘senseless act of brutal violence’ at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, one of the deadliest mass shootingsin Canadian history

Students exiting the Tumbler Ridge school after deadly shootings, in British Columbia, Canada, Tuesday, February 10, 2026

The King’s words were echoed by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

William and Kate, in a personal message posted on social media, said: ‘We stand with all Canadians following this morning’s appalling tragedy.

‘Our hearts are with the entire Tumbler Ridge community, and we extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends affected by this devastating loss.

‘We are so thankful for the courage shown by the students, staff, and emergency responders who acted with selflessness in the face of such violence.’

The message was signed ‘W&C’.

It comes after eight people were found dead, including the attacker, inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia, as well as two at a connected residence.

The shooter, believed to be a woman, appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene.

A total of 27 were wounded, with two people sustaining life-threatening injuries.

The attacker has not yet been named, and their motive remains unclear. They were described as a ‘female in a dress with brown hair’, according to an emergency alert sent to phones.

As police searched the school, they found six people shot dead. A seventh person with a gunshot wound died en route to the hospital.

Schoolchildren barricaded their classroom doors with tables as they hid from the shooter.

Darian Quist, a grade 12 student, said he was in a mechanics class when an urgent lockdown alarm sounded in the hallways, instructing them to close the doors. 

At first, he ‘didn’t think anything was going on’ but then he received ‘disturbing’ pictures showing the carnage at the school.

‘It set in what was happening’ and for more than two hours they ‘got tables and barricaded the doors,’ Quist said, until police arrived to escort them out of the building, where he met up with his mother.

Trent Ernst, a former substitute teacher at the school, said: ‘There’s been troubled kids here in town before.’

Tumbler Ridge town councillor Chris Norbury, whose wife teaches at the secondary school, said it was ‘terrifying’ when he found out the school had been attacked.

William and Kate, in a personal message posted on social media, said: ‘We stand with all Canadians following this morning’s appalling tragedy.

RCMP Superintendent Ken Floyd confirmed that the suspect found dead at the school is the same person described as a woman in a dress with brown hair in the active shooter alert sent out earlier today

He told the BBC: ‘I immediately contacted my wife and found out from her that the school was in lockdown, she didn’t know why.’

He said she did respond to him immediately when he asked if she was safe.

‘It was terrifying, it’s hard to put into words the dread and the fear that you feel knowing that a loved one is in danger.’

Police found two more bodies at a residence in Tumbler Ridge in what is believed to be a ‘connected incident’.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Superintendent Ken Floyd said: ‘I think we will struggle to determine the “why”, but we will try our best to determine what transpired.’

He did not confirm if the suspect found dead at the school is the same person described as a ‘female in a dress with brown hair’ in the active shooter alert sent out on Tuesday.

Police have not yet released any information about the age of the shooter or the victims.

‘Officers are conducting further searches of additional homes and properties to determine whether anyone else may be injured or otherwise linked to today’s events,’ they said.

In a statement, the District of Tumbler Ridge: ‘Our hearts are with all those affected, and we recognize that many residents may be feeling shocked, scared, and overwhelmed.’

The town’s secondary school, which enrolls 175 students, and its elementary school will be closed for the rest of the week.

Tumbler Ridge, a picturesque mountain valley town in the foothills of the Rockies about 736 miles north of Vancouver, has a population of 2,400.

The Tumbler Ridge Health Centre, in Tumbler Ridge

It is described as an ‘incredibly safe community’ by Councillor Norbury.

He added: ‘We don’t lock our doors here. We have three police vehicles in our town, we are very small. We are a small community. We know each other, we all know the victims. They are our friends, our friends’ children.’

The mayor of Tumbler Ridge, Darryl Krakowka, told CBC: ‘I will know every victim. I’ve been here 19 years, and we’re a small community. I don’t call them residents. I call them family.’

Prime Minister Mark Carney, who cancelled his trip to the Munich Security Conference, said: ‘I am devastated by today’s horrific shootings in Tumbler Ridge, BC. My prayers and deepest condolences are with the families and friends who have lost loved ones to these horrific acts of violence.

‘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.

‘Our ability to come together in crisis is the best of our country — our empathy, our unity, and our compassion for each other.’

‘I have connected with Premier Eby to express my condolences, and with the Minister of Public Safety, Gary Anandasangaree, who is coordinating the federal response.

‘Our officials are in close contact with their counterparts to ensure the community is fully supported as best we can. The Government of Canada stands with all British Columbians as they confront this horrible tragedy.’