People in the small Canadian town of Tumbler Ridge have reacted with shock and disbelief after nine people were killed and at least 25 wounded in a shooting at a local secondary school and home.
Members of the remote community, 415 miles (667 km) northeast of the western city of Vancouver, spoke of their fear and uncertainty during the school lockdown, as no one appeared to be aware of the magnitude of what was unfolding.
They described how close the community of just 2,500 people was, and how devastated it would be by what had happened.
I will know every victim. I've been here 19 years, and we're a small community, town mayor Darryl Krakowka told Canadian broadcaster CBC. I don't call them residents. I call them family, he added.
Chris Norbury, a town councillor, found himself closely connected to the event as his wife teaches at the high school and his daughter attends a nearby elementary school. His overwhelming feelings of dread and uncertainty reflected the sentiments of many in the community.
Students barricaded themselves in classrooms for hours, terrified and unsure of their safety, with many struggling to grasp the reality of the situation.
Local resident Bryan Castellarin's son, Ashton, experienced the chaos first-hand, huddled with classmates as gunshots rang out. In a moment that felt eternal, they waited for police to escort them to safety.
As reports of the casualties emerged, the horror of the situation began to settle over the community, stirring deep sorrow and fear about the lasting impacts on their lives.
In a community where crime is incredibly low, this incident has left residents, leaders, and families questioning how such a tragedy could occur. As Tumbler Ridge begins to heal, the echoes of loss and fear linger, emphasizing the critical need for support and resilience in facing the days ahead.
