A grieving family in Tumbler Ridge, Canada is mourning the death of 12-year-old Kylie Smith, one of the victims of a deadly school shooting that has shaken the small northern community and renewed national conversations about school safety and youth mental health. Authorities confirmed that the shooting occurred inside a local school on Tuesday morning, sending students and staff into lockdown and prompting an immediate emergency response from RCMP units in the region. The suspect, whose identity has not been released, was later found deceased from an apparent self-inflicted wound.

Kylie’s father, Lance Younge, described his daughter as a “beautiful soul,” a child full of warmth, curiosity, and kindness. In emotional remarks shared with local media, he recounted the final moment he saw her: walking into school with her younger brother, Ethan, just minutes before the shooting began. “If I had known it would be the last time,” he said, “I would have held on a little longer.” Kylie was among the first students targeted. Emergency crews attempted to save her, but she succumbed to her injuries at the scene.

Ethan, who is 10, survived by hiding inside a utility room after hearing the first shots. His parents say he has been shaken but is physically unharmed. They credit his survival to instinct and the quick reactions of classmates and staff who helped guide several children into safer areas inside the school. Among those hailed as heroes is an unidentified older student who performed CPR on an injured classmate until first responders arrived — a detail the family says should be front and center in public discussions.

“We want the focus on the victims and the heroes,” Younge said. “Not the shooter. Not the person who took her from us.” He urged the community and the media to avoid amplifying the attacker’s identity or motives, a sentiment echoed by many families in the region who say they want healing, not more attention on violence.

The tragedy has devastated the town of just a few thousand residents, where neighbors know one another and schools are deeply woven into community life. Outside the campus, a growing memorial of flowers, candles, handwritten notes, and stuffed animals is forming — many left by classmates who described Kylie as friendly, artistic, and always smiling. Teachers remembered her as enthusiastic in class and helpful with younger students.

Authorities have not yet released additional details about the shooter or the circumstances that led up to the incident, citing an active investigation. However, police confirmed there is no ongoing threat to the public. Mental-health support teams have been deployed to assist students, parents, and school employees as the community grapples with the emotional impact.

As vigils take place across British Columbia, Kylie’s father has shared one message repeatedly — a message that has now spread far beyond the province. “Hold your kids tight,” he said. “You never know when the last time will be.”

The family says they will continue speaking publicly not for attention, but to ensure that Kylie’s memory is honored with compassion, accountability, and meaningful conversations about protecting children — not with headlines that elevate the person responsible for the violence. “Our daughter deserved better,” Younge said softly. “And we will make sure she is remembered for the light she brought — not the darkness that took her.”