Canadian Students Cower for Hours as School Shooter Kills Seven Classmates
Traumatised Canadian high school students have recounted being left cowering in terror for hours as a shooter killed at least seven of their classmates in a horrifying incident. The shooter, who remains unidentified, was described by authorities as a "gun person" wearing a "dress." Police confirmed that at least seven students at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School were shot dead on Tuesday afternoon, with two other individuals also found deceased at a residence in Tumbler Ridge.
Lockdown and Prolonged Fear
Darian Quist, a 12th grader, told CBC that he was in his mechanics class when the school was suddenly plunged into a lockdown. "For a while, I didn’t think anything was going on," he said. "I thought it was just like maybe a ‘Secure and hold’ but once everything starts circulating, we kind of realised something was wrong." Quist explained that he and his classmates were then forced to hide in fear for their lives for over two hours, a terrifying ordeal only broken when police eventually escorted them out of the classroom.
Atmosphere of Terror and Gruesome Evidence
He described the atmosphere in the classroom as "very nervous," a feeling that intensified when he saw gruesome evidence of the carnage at his school sent to his cell phone. Authorities stated that the shooter also died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the school, bringing the total death toll to at least ten, including the seven students, the two individuals at the residence, and the shooter.
The incident has left the community of Tumbler Ridge in shock, with students and staff grappling with the trauma of the prolonged lockdown and the violent loss of life. Police investigations are ongoing to determine the motive and full circumstances surrounding the shooting, as support services are mobilised to assist those affected by this tragic event.
