Officials in British Columbia, including Premier David Eby, condemned a Ministry of Children and Family Development employee who was shot dead on Monday.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in the North Coast city said a man shot himself after killing the woman at a shopping center, and he also died.

The police also added that the murder and apparent suicide at the Ocean Centre Mall was an "isolated incident" and that the 44-year-old gunman and his 52-year-old victim knew each other, but they still do not know how.

The police stated that the woman died before being taken to the hospital and that the gunman was in critical condition but died a few hours later.

Also, a statement issued by the Premier's office said the shooting was "an act of violence committed against a person who worked to serve local children and families." And that the "tragic event" is still the subject of an active police investigation.

Likewise, the statement was issued late Tuesday on behalf of Eby, Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth, Children and Families Minister Mitzi Dean, and Jennifer Rice, Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness.

The statement read: "Our hearts are also with those who moved immediately to provide emergency care, who may have witnessed this violence, and anyone whose safety was threatened by yesterday’s events. We are here for you and will be in the days, weeks, and months to come."

Eby had said earlier on Tuesday during a labor union conference in Vancouver that the victim was a member of the British Columbia General Employees' Union, but he did not provide further details.