At least nine people have died following a shooting at a secondary school and a nearby residence in the rural northeastern British Columbia community of Tumbler Ridge, authorities confirmed Tuesday.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) responded to reports of an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School at approximately 1:20 p.m. local time.

Upon arrival, officers discovered six individuals deceased at the school and dozens more injured.One additional victim died while being transported to hospital, according to RCMP.

Two other individuals were later found deceased at a residence believed to be connected to the incident, police said in an official statement.The suspected shooter was located deceased inside the school with what authorities described as an apparent self-inflicted injury.

An emergency alert issued to residents described the suspect as a brown-haired woman wearing a dress, according to CBC News. Police have identified the suspect but are withholding further details, including age, for privacy reasons.

Two victims were airlifted to hospital with serious or life-threatening injuries. Approximately 25 others with non-life-threatening injuries are receiving treatment at a local medical centre.Tumbler Ridge Secondary School serves approximately 175 students in Grades 7 through 12, according to provincial records.

At a Tuesday press conference, Superintendent Ken Floyd, RCMP North District Commander, said investigators have not yet determined a motive.“We are not in a place now to be able to understand why or what may have motivated this tragedy,” Floyd said. “I think we will struggle to determine the ‘why,’ but we will try our best to determine what transpired.

”Authorities have not confirmed how many of the deceased were children or what connections, if any, existed between the victims and the suspect.

The investigation remains ongoing.