B.C. Premier David Eby is headed back to Tumbler Ridge, as provincial and federal leaders converge on the small northeastern community for a vigil in honour of the victims of Tuesday’s mass shooting.
Eby was in the community earlier this week, meeting with local officials, first responders and residents. He travelled back to Victoria on Thursday to attend a special throne speech at the legislature dedicated to the community of Tumbler Ridge.
Eby will be joined Friday by Education and Child Care Minister Lisa Beare and Health Minister Josie Osborne.
B.C. Conservative interim leader Trevor Halford and B.C. Green MLA Jeremy Valeriote will also attend.
Governor General Mary Simon, Prime Minister Mark Carney, federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and a number of other federal ministers and leaders are also travelling to Tumbler Ridge.
The vigil is set to take place at 6:15 pm.
Six children and two women were killed in the shootings at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and a home in the community.
The victims of the shooting at the school include a 39-year-old female teacher, three 12-year-old girls and two boys aged 12 and 13.
Police said the suspect’s mother and 11-year-old step brother were found dead at a home.
Two victims were airlifted to hospital on Tuesday in serious condition.
A GoFundMe page for 12-year-old Maya Gebala said she remains in serious condition at B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver after suffering gunshot wounds to the head and neck. The fundraiser had raised more than $350,000 as of Friday morning.
A Facebook post by Leann Fletcher said her 19-year-old sister, Paige Hoekstra, is now out of danger after undergoing surgery for a gunshot wound to the chest.
B.C. RCMP said the 18-year-old suspect, Tumbler Ridge resident Jesse Van Rootselaar, died at the school of a self-inflicted wound.
Police have not revealed any suspected motive for the shooting.
