People in the small Canadian town of Tumbler Ridge have reacted with shock and disbelief after nine people were killed and at least 25 wounded in a shooting at a local secondary school and home.
Members of the remote community, 415 miles (667 km) northeast of the western city of Vancouver, spoke of their fear and uncertainty during the school lockdown, as no-one appeared to be aware of the magnitude of what was unfolding.
They described how close the community of just 2,500 people was, and how devastated it would be by what had happened. I will know every victim. I've been here 19 years, and we're a small community, town mayor Darryl Krakowka told Canadian broadcaster CBC.
I don't call them residents. I call them family, he added.
Chris Norbury, a town councillor, was caught close to the chaos as his wife teaches at the secondary school and his daughter attends a nearby elementary school. He felt immense anxiety as news described an active shooter situation, experiencing helplessness as emergency vehicles responded to the scene.
Bryan Castellarin's 15-year-old son Ashton was among the trapped students. Talking about the incident, he shared how his son and classmates barricaded themselves in during the frightening two to three hours of lockdown.
Another student, Darian Quist, highlighted feelings of dread as he also faced lockdown protocols, while parents like Shelley Quist expressed panic until they confirmed their children's safety.
Now, with the community reeling from the fallout, local leaders stress the need to come together and support one another in the wake of what many deem an unprecedented act of violence in Tumbler Ridge.
Reflections on the future are bittersweet, as community members grapple with the fear of going back to school and the long-lasting impact on their tight-knit relationships.
