A tragic mass shooting in the remote Canadian community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, has left eight people dead and dozens injured, with authorities identifying 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar as the sole perpetrator. The suspect was found deceased at the secondary school scene from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald.
The violence unfolded in two locations on Tuesday afternoon. The initial attack occurred at a nearby residential property where Van Rootselaar’s 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother were fatally shot. The suspect then proceeded to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where six additional victims lost their lives: a 39-year-old female educator, three 12-year-old female students, and two male students aged 12 and 13. At least 25 individuals sustained injuries during the school shooting.
Authorities revealed significant details about the suspect’s background, noting that Van Rootselaar was born biologically male but had begun transitioning to female approximately six years prior. The suspect had dropped out of the same secondary school four years earlier and previously held a valid firearms license that had since expired.
RCMP officials confirmed responding to multiple calls at the suspect’s family residence over recent years, with some incidents related to mental health concerns. Despite this history, the precise motive behind Tuesday’s violence remains undetermined.
Law enforcement responded to active shooter reports at approximately 13:30 local time (20:20 GMT), arriving on scene within two minutes. Officers encountered ongoing gunfire before locating the deceased suspect. Two firearms—a long gun and a modified handgun—were recovered from the scene, though their specific roles in the shooting remain under investigation.
The small community of Tumbler Ridge, with approximately 2,400 residents, has been profoundly impacted by the tragedy. The secondary school serves just 160 students in grades 7 through 12. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described how students and educators “bore witness to unheard of cruelty” during the attack, noting that some victims continue fighting for their lives in hospital.
Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka characterized the community as “small and tight-knit,” anticipating he would personally know all victims. “I’ve been here 19 years, and we’re a small community,” he told CBC. “I don’t call them residents. I call them family.”