Canadian authorities have identified the suspect behind a deadly school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, who had a documented history of mental health-related police calls.
The attack, which unfolded Tuesday afternoon at a secondary school in the remote Rocky Mountain foothills town, left six people dead at the school — including one teacher and five students aged 12 to 13. Police later discovered the bodies of the suspect’s 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother at the family home. The shooter was found dead at the school from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The tragedy ranks among the worst mass casualty incidents in Canada’s recent history.
“This is a deeply distressing incident where nine individuals have senselessly lost their lives,” said Dwayne McDonald, deputy commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), during a Wednesday briefing. The death toll was revised from 10 to nine after one victim previously believed deceased survived but remains in critical condition.
According to investigators, Van Rootselaar arrived at the school armed with a long gun and a modified handgun. The shooter opened fire on staff and students, killing one teacher and five children. Police responded within two minutes and came under fire upon arrival. Inside the building, officers found victims in a classroom and a stairwell, along with the body of the shooter.
Officers later went to the suspect’s home, where they found the mother and stepbrother dead from gunshot wounds. McDonald confirmed that the killings at the residence occurred before the school attack, CBC reported.
Police said they had responded to mental health-related calls at the suspect’s home over several years, some involving firearms. On at least one occasion, weapons were seized, and the lawful owner later sought their return.
Addressing public confusion about how the suspect was described in alerts, McDonald said police “identified the suspect as they chose to be identified” publicly and on social media.
“I can say that Jesse was born as a biological male who, approximately six years ago, began to transition to female and identified as female, both socially and publicly,” he said.
Authorities stressed that the investigation is still in its early stages and no motive has been confirmed.
Local resident Dennis Campbell told CBC that his daughter was leaving a school bathroom when the shooting began. She ran to the gym and hid.
“Dad, there’s a shooting, there’s a shooting here,” Campbell recalled her saying, adding that she is mourning the loss of four close friends.
Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the nation in an emotional speech following a moment of silence in Parliament.
“What happened has left our nation in shock and all of us in mourning.
“These children and their teachers bore witness to unheard-of cruelty. I want everyone to know this: our entire country stands with you, on behalf of all Canadians,” he said.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Carney described Tumbler Ridge as:
“Tumbler Ridge … is one of the youngest towns in the great province of British Columbia, carved out of the wilderness in the 1980s, built on the promise of the resource economy and by the determination of its residents. It’s a town of miners, teachers, construction workers, families who have built their lives there, people who have always shown up for each other there.”
Carney ordered flags on federal buildings to be flown at half-mast for seven days and cancelled travel plans to attend the Munich Security Conference.
“We will get through this. We will learn from this,” he told reporters.
“But right now, it’s a time to come together, as Canadians always do in these situations, these terrible situations, to support each other, to mourn together and to grow together.”
At least two other individuals remain hospitalized with serious or life-threatening injuries, while up to 25 others are being treated for non-life-threatening wounds. A widely shared Facebook post, reportedly written by the mother of a 12-year-old girl shot in the head and neck, stated:
“She was a lucky one, I suppose. Condolences to the other families during this tragedy.
“This doesn’t even feel real.”
Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka described the town of fewer than 2,500 residents as close-knit.
“I broke down,” he said. “I have lived here for 18 years. I probably know every one of the victims.”
British Columbia Public Safety Minister Nina Krieger praised the rapid police response, saying “speed and professionalism” helped prevent further loss of life.
The district described the shooting as “deeply distressing,” urging residents to lean on community supports.
“We recognise that many residents may be feeling shocked, scared and overwhelmed,” the statement read. “In the days ahead, we know this will be difficult for many to process. Please check in on one another, lean on available supports, and know that Tumbler Ridge is a strong and caring community.”
The school, which serves about 160 students in grades seven through 12, will remain closed for the rest of the week, with counseling services made available.
“Our priority at this time is taking care of each other and re-establishing a sense of safety in our community,” school officials said.
“There are no words that can ease the fear and pain that events like this cause in a school community,” the parent advisory council added. “We want families to know that the safety and wellbeing of students and staff are paramount, and we are grateful to the first responders and emergency personnel who acted quickly and professionally.”
The shooting is the second-deadliest school attack in Canadian history. In 1989, 14 students were killed at Montreal’s L’Ecole Polytechnique. In 2016, five people died in school-related shootings in La Loche, Saskatchewan. Following the 2020 Nova Scotia mass shooting that left 22 people dead, Canada banned approximately 1,500 models of assault-style firearms.
British Columbia Premier David Eby called the incident an “unimaginable tragedy.”
As a father of three, he said the news “makes you want to hug your kids a little tighter.”
“Wrap these families with love. Not just tonight but tomorrow and into the future. This is something that will reverberate for years to come,” he said.
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