Alberta RCMP report rise in weapons complaints following Tumbler Ridge school shooting

Alberta RCMP say they have responded to an increased number of reports involving weapons in the days following last week’s deadly school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., which left nine people dead and has shaken communities across Western Canada.

RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Troy Savinkoff said officers have received four separate calls in the past week reporting individuals with weapons in High River, Fort McMurray, Edson and Sherwood Park. While police cannot confirm a direct link between the recent spike in calls and the tragedy in British Columbia, Savinkoff said it is unusual and officers believe heightened public concern may be contributing to more precautionary reports.

Several of the incidents prompted temporary lockdowns at nearby schools as a safety measure. Police say only one of the calls resulted in charges. In Edson, a man allegedly threw beef jerky at students while shouting Bible verses and discharged a firearm three times before fleeing. He was later taken into custody and is facing charges.

Criminology professor Adam Lankford of the University of Alabama says such increases in reports are common after mass shootings. Research in the United States suggests communities tend to react with greater caution in the immediate aftermath of high profile violence, often leading to a rise in emergency calls.

The developments come as Alberta school divisions review safety protocols and reassure families about security measures. Officials say while most reported incidents do not pose an ongoing threat, every call is treated seriously to ensure student and public safety.