Crime
Victims Killed in Tumbler Ridge Secondary School Shooting Identified
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 Childrenโs 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 โ 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.
โToday started as any other,โ Edmonds said. โNow my 12-year-old daughter is fighting for her life while they try to repair the damage. This doesnโt even feel real. Please pray for my baby.โ
In a later update, Edmonds shared that doctors warned the damage to Mayaโs brain may be too severe for her to survive the night.
โOur baby needs a miracle,โ she said. โI can feel her in my heartโฆ sheโs here โ for how long, we donโt know.โ
Edmonds also extended condolences to the families who lost loved ones, describing the tragedy as something no parent should ever have to endure.
โIt was just a normal day. Our community is shattered. My heart bleeds for everyone trying to process this horrific string of events.โ
A fundraising effort organized by Edmondsโ cousin, Krysta Hunt, aims to support the family as Maya continues her fight for survival. The girlโs aunt, Marta Batten, added, โThere are no words for the fear and pain our family is feeling in this moment.โ
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.
โYesterday our family received the gut-wrenching news that our beautiful Kylie May was confirmed to be one of the victims,โ she wrote. โShe was just 12 years old. We are completely devastated and have no words.โ
Much of Kylieโs immediate family lives on Vancouver Island. Her mother, Desirae โ who recently relocated after nearly 12 years in Tumbler Ridge โ had not seen her daughter in several months. Kylieโs father and stepmother are currently caring for her brother and stepbrother as the family grapples with the loss.
โOur world has crumbled,โ Shanon said.
A GoFundMe established by the family will help cover travel costs, immediate needs, and eventually a memorial to honor Kylieโs life.
โMy heart aches for the other families involved and for the loss of their children,โ she added. โTo the families with children still in the hospital โ keep fighting. We are sending you prayers.โ
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.
โOur son went to school this morning, and someone came to school with a gun, went to my childโs classroom, shot some kids โ and my son was killed too, just like that,โ 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 suspectโs 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 โ a mountain valley town of roughly 2,400 residents located about 736 miles north of Vancouver โ 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.
โI broke down,โ he said. โIt is devastating. I have lived here for 18 years โ I probably know every one of the victims. This community is like a big family.โ
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.
โI 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,โ 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 โ 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 โ remembering the lives lost, supporting those still fighting to recover, and leaning on one another in the face of profound sorrow.
ERIE, Pa. โ Matthew S. Stone, also known as Matt Stone, has reportedly been identified as the suspected gunman in a deadly mass shooting at a residence on Perry Street in Erie, Pennsylvania, on Friday, October 9, 2026.
The shooting reportedly claimed nine lives, including those of his daughter, Angelina Stone, and her two young children, according to information shared by family members and other reports.
Authorities responded to a residence at 722 Perry Street at approximately 5 p.m. after receiving emergency calls reporting gunfire.
The incident developed into an hours-long standoff before officers entered the home and found multiple victims.
The suspected shooter was also found dead inside the residence, reportedly from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The reported identification of Matthew S. Stone as the suspect has added another painful dimension to a tragedy that has devastated relatives, friends and the wider Erie community. However, the suspect’s identity and the reported family relationships should be treated as unconfirmed unless officially verified by law enforcement.
Angelina Stone, 24, her 5-year-old son, Isiah Hodges, and her nearly 2-year-old daughter, Amariโanna, have reportedly been identified among those killed in the shooting.
Family-shared information and a fundraising appeal described Angelina as pregnant and expecting a baby boy named Kyrie in the coming weeks. The reported deaths of Angelina and her children have left relatives and friends grieving the loss of a young mother and the children whose lives were cut short.
Information shared by family members reportedly identified Matthew S. Stone as Angelina’s father and the person responsible for killing her and her children. However, the information available for this report does not establish that police have officially confirmed the suspect’s identity, the family relationships or the allegations surrounding the deaths.
Lora Roberts, a mother of five and volunteer advocate for people experiencing homelessness, has also reportedly been identified as a victim.
Roberts was known for her community service and was reportedly a former member of the board of directors of Community of Caring, an Erie nonprofit that provides food and shelter to people in need.
According to information shared about the incident, Roberts was reportedly attempting to help a family member escape when she was shot. Her reported death has left five children without their mother and loved ones mourning a woman remembered for her compassion and willingness to help others.
April Miles Pineiro shared a heartfelt tribute remembering Jonathan and Matthew Stone as close childhood friends who helped make her early years unforgettable.
Pineiro recalled meeting the brothers when they were children and quickly becoming part of a close group of neighborhood friends. They spent hours playing outdoors, including hide-and-seek games in which the boys sometimes wore a clown mask to scare their friends.
She remembered how the children continued spending time together through cold and snowy weather and how they walked to the school bus stop together when they learned they would attend the same school.
Pineiro also recalled Jonathan’s childhood crush on her and a memorable visit to a park when playful horseplay on a slide ended with both brothers falling. She described these memories with affection, emphasizing the lasting bond they shared.
In her tribute, Pineiro expressed heartbreak over the reported deaths and promised to cherish their memories.
โI’ll love you ALWAYS AND FOREVER Matthew and Jonathan,โ she wrote.
Her words reflected the depth of the friendships and the profound grief being felt by those who knew the brothers.
According to reports, witnesses told investigators that a man fired a handgun outside the residence before entering the home. Two women were initially found dead in the street.
Erie police officers and the department’s SWAT team surrounded the property and attempted to persuade the man inside to surrender. Additional gunshots were reportedly heard while officers remained outside.
Police eventually entered the residence and discovered additional victims in different areas of the home, including children. The suspected shooter was found dead inside, reportedly with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Authorities said there was no continuing threat to the public after the situation was contained.
Erie Police Chief Rick Lorah described the incident as devastating and deeply disturbing for the officers and investigators involved.
โThe loss of life is devastating, and the circumstances we are working through are deeply disturbing,โ Lorah said.
Mayor Daria Devlin also expressed condolences to the victims’ families and everyone affected by the tragedy, calling it a terrible loss for the community.
The Erie County Coroner’s Office and police investigators remained at the scene late Friday to document evidence and establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths. Counseling was reportedly being made available to responding officers following the traumatic incident.
The reported deaths of Angelina Stone, her children, Lora Roberts and other victims have left families and friends facing an unimaginable loss.
Community members continue to share tributes, remembering the victims through stories of childhood friendships, family bonds and efforts to help others.
Authorities are working to establish the full sequence of events and confirm the identities and relationships of those involved. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional official information may clarify the reported identity of the suspected shooter and the circumstances leading to the deadly incident.