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Topics: News, World News, Canada, Crime, Gun Crime
Lucy Devine
A student who was present at the school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, Canada, has spoken about photos he received of the scene.
On Tuesday (February 10), eight people, including the suspected shooter, were found dead at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in Tumbler Ridge, a town of about 2,400 people in British Columbia. Six were found deceased on-site, while a seventh died on the way to the hospital, according to the BBC.
Separate to the incident at the school, two others have been killed at a residential property. It is believed this was connected to the incident, though police have said they aren't in a position to confirm it definitively.
Following the shooting, Darian Quist, who is in Grade 12, and his mom, Shelley Quist, explained to CBC Radio West what happened when the school went into lockdown.
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Darian explained that he had arrived at his mechanics class at around 1.30pm when an alarm sounded.
Darian explained that he couldn't hear anything from where he was in the school building, but that the class got to work coming up with a plan and barricading the door.
The student was trying to remain calm when he was sent photographs from one of the classrooms believed to be impacted by the shooting.
"They were disturbing, showing blood and things like that," he said. "I think that's when it all really set in. I was definitely pretty scared, I was wondering if we were formulating an escape plan if anyone did come up to the door we were gonna' run outside of the garage door and out of the back towards the visitor center."
Darian explained there were around 15 students in the classroom with him, as well as a teacher, who was moving tables towards the classroom door until the police arrived and escorted them out.
Darian's mom, Shelley, described the situation as a 'rollercoaster of emotions', explaining she was at work when her co-worker alerted her to what was happening at the high school.
She called Darian on his mobile and asked him to leave her on the phone while he waited in the classroom.
Shelley then went home from work to be with her 20-year-old son, locking all of her doors and remaining on the phone with her youngest. Eventually, the pair reunited.
"I gave him a very big hug and he's not going to be out of my sight for a while now," she said.
Following the tragedy, British Columbia Premier David Eby expressed his condolences to the families affected and said in a statement: “Our hearts are in Tumbler Ridge tonight with the families of those who have lost loved ones. Government will ensure every possible support for community members in the coming days, as we all try to come to terms with this unimaginable tragedy.”