Authorities and grieving families have begun identifying the victims of the devastating mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in eastern British Columbia, a tragedy that has left a close-knit community in mourning and shaken the nation.

Maya Gebala Fighting for Her Life

Twelve-year-old Maya Gebala was expected to spend her day learning and planning for her future. Instead, she is now in critical condition at Vancouver Children’s Hospital after being seriously wounded in the attack.

Her mother, Cia Edmonds, has remained at her bedside, praying continuously and urging others to do the same as doctors work tirelessly to stabilize her daughter.

Maya was more than a student — she was a dedicated and courageous defender for the Tumbler Ridge Raptors under-13 ice hockey team in the North East Recreational Hockey League. Known for her determination and willingness to protect her teammates, she displayed the same resilience while being rushed to emergency care following the shooting.

Family members say physicians are still assessing the full extent of her injuries, which include gunshot wounds to the head and neck. Despite the severity of the trauma, Maya survived the emergency airlift from the remote community to Vancouver.

“Today started as any other,” Edmonds said. “Now my 12-year-old daughter is fighting for her life while they try to repair the damage. This doesn’t even feel real. Please pray for my baby.”

In a later update, Edmonds shared that doctors warned the damage to Maya’s brain may be too severe for her to survive the night.

“Our baby needs a miracle,” she said. “I can feel her in my heart… she’s here — for how long, we don’t know.”

Edmonds also extended condolences to the families who lost loved ones, describing the tragedy as something no parent should ever have to endure.

“It was just a normal day. Our community is shattered. My heart bleeds for everyone trying to process this horrific string of events.”

A fundraising effort organized by Edmonds’ cousin, Krysta Hunt, aims to support the family as Maya continues her fight for survival. The girl’s aunt, Marta Batten, added, “There are no words for the fear and pain our family is feeling in this moment.”

Kylie May Smith Among Those Killed

Another young life lost was 12-year-old Kylie May Smith. Her aunt, Shanon, confirmed the heartbreaking news in a public statement.

“Yesterday our family received the gut-wrenching news that our beautiful Kylie May was confirmed to be one of the victims,” she wrote. “She was just 12 years old. We are completely devastated and have no words.”

Much of Kylie’s immediate family lives on Vancouver Island. Her mother, Desirae — who recently relocated after nearly 12 years in Tumbler Ridge — had not seen her daughter in several months. Kylie’s father and stepmother are currently caring for her brother and stepbrother as the family grapples with the loss.

“Our world has crumbled,” Shanon said.

A GoFundMe established by the family will help cover travel costs, immediate needs, and eventually a memorial to honor Kylie’s life.

“My heart aches for the other families involved and for the loss of their children,” she added. “To the families with children still in the hospital — keep fighting. We are sending you prayers.”

Father Mourns Son Abel Mwansa

One of the victims has also been identified as 12-year-old Abel Mwansa. In a deeply emotional tribute shared on social media, his father described the unimaginable moment he learned his son had been killed.

“Our son went to school this morning, and someone came to school with a gun, went to my child’s classroom, shot some kids — and my son was killed too, just like that,” Abel Mwansa wrote.

Police say the shooting began at approximately 1:20 p.m., when an 18-year-old suspect opened fire inside the secondary school, wounding more than two dozen students and staff.

At least seven people were killed at the school, while two additional victims were discovered at a nearby residence believed to be connected to the incident. The suspect was later found dead from what investigators believe was a self-inflicted injury.

Authorities identified the suspect as Jesse Strang, also known by the surname Van Rootselar. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Strang had dropped out of school at age 14, and the residence had previously been the subject of police calls, including mental health-related incidents. Firearms had been seized from the home in the past but were later returned to the lawful owner following a petition.

Investigators continue working to establish a definitive timeline and determine a motive.

Students who survived described hiding in locked classrooms for nearly two hours, fearing the attacker might attempt to break through the doors. Video captured the tense aftermath, showing students evacuating with their hands raised as police vehicles surrounded the building and a helicopter circled overhead.

The school, which enrolls approximately 175 students, along with the local elementary school, will remain closed for the rest of the week.

Among those confirmed dead were a 39-year-old female teacher, three 12-year-old girls, and two boys aged 12 and 13. Authorities also located the suspect’s mother, Jennifer Strang, 39, and his younger brother, Emmett, 11, deceased at the family home.

Officials noted that an earlier misidentification mistakenly listed an injured student as a fatal victim; it remains unclear whether that reference involved Maya.

Tumbler Ridge — a mountain valley town of roughly 2,400 residents located about 736 miles north of Vancouver — is widely regarded as an exceptionally safe and tightly connected community. Known for its lakes, rivers, waterfalls, hiking trails, and UNESCO-recognized dinosaur fossil sites, the town has rarely faced violence of this magnitude.

Mayor Darryl Krakowka said the tragedy has shaken residents to their core.

“I broke down,” he said. “It is devastating. I have lived here for 18 years — I probably know every one of the victims. This community is like a big family.”

British Columbia Premier David Eby reported that officers reached the school within two minutes of the first emergency calls, underscoring the rapid response by first responders.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney also expressed national sorrow.

“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,” he said.

The attack is being described as one of the most significant acts of mass violence in Canada in recent years and the deadliest rampage since the 2020 Nova Scotia tragedy. Past incidents have prompted national conversations around gun control, including expanded bans on certain firearms.

As investigators continue their work, the focus for many has shifted toward supporting survivors and grieving families — and toward the fragile hope that Maya Gebala, a young athlete known for her strength and spirit, can overcome the unimaginable.

For now, Tumbler Ridge stands united in grief — remembering the lives lost, supporting those still fighting to recover, and leaning on one another in the face of profound sorrow.