Canadian authorities have reportedly identified a suspect in the school shooting but are withholding key details, including names and backgrounds, citing privacy concerns and the ongoing investigation. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said the suspect was found dead inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in what appeared to be a self-inflicted wound after officers entered the building in response to an active shooter call around 1:20 p.m. local time Tuesday.
Police have not yet released the name and identity of the gunman (Representative Image/Unsplash)The blast, which killed 10 people, was one of the country’s deadliest mass shootings in recent history, a type of shooting in Canada that is more common than in the neighboring United States.
RCMP Superintendent Ken Floyd told reporters that investigators have confirmed the identity of the gunman but would not release it at this time. “We are not in a position to understand why or what could have motivated this tragedy,”
Floyd said at a press conference, adding that the motive remains unclear and the victim’s connections are still being examined.
Police said they do not believe there are any additional suspects and there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Shooter is a woman: local mediaMultiple Canadian media outlets, including CBC News, reported that the shooter was female.
An emergency alert issued at the time of the incident described the suspect as a woman with brown hair — a description RCMP said matched the deceased suspect later found at the school. However, police have not officially confirmed the gender or age.
Authorities are also investigating a residence believed to be linked to the suspect, where two other victims were found dead.
At least ten people, including the suspect, were killed in or near the school and more than 25 were injured. RCMP have taken over the Major Crime investigation and said more details will be released when appropriate.