British Columbia: A remote town in northern British Columbia is grappling with grief after an 18-year-old carried out a deadly attack that began inside her home and ended at a local school, claiming nine lives including her own.
Authorities identified the shooter as Jesse Van Rootselaar, a transgender woman who had previously attended the school in Tumbler Ridge. Investigators revealed that before heading to the campus on Tuesday, she fatally shot her 39-year-old mother and her 11-year-old stepbrother at their residence.
The violence then shifted to the school, where a teacher and several students were killed. Police said the victims included a 39-year-old female educator and five students — most of them 12 years old, along with a 13-year-old boy. Two other individuals, aged 12 and 19, remain hospitalized in serious condition. In total, dozens of people were hurt in the attack.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed that the suspect died from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound before officers secured the building. Police teams reached the school within minutes of the first emergency call and encountered active gunfire upon arrival.
Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald said the suspect had a history of interactions with law enforcement tied to mental health concerns. Over the past several years, officers had been dispatched multiple times to the family home. She had also been taken for psychiatric evaluation under British Columbia’s Mental Health Act on more than one occasion.
While investigators believe the shooter acted alone, they have not established a motive. “It is too early to draw conclusions about what led to this,” McDonald told reporters, noting there is no evidence at this point that specific individuals were singled out.
Police recovered a long gun and a modified handgun at the scene.
The scale of the tragedy has stunned Canadians, as such incidents are rare in the country. Prime Minister Mark Carney, appearing visibly shaken during a public address, expressed sorrow for the victims and their families. He ordered flags at federal buildings to be lowered for seven days and postponed a planned international visit.
Speaking in Parliament later in the day, Carney described Tumbler Ridge as a tight-knit town built on hard work and mutual support. “This is a place where people show up for one another,” he said, adding that the country stands united in mourning.
Condolences have also come from abroad. King Charles said he was deeply saddened by the loss of life and extended sympathy to the affected families and the broader Canadian public.
As investigators continue piecing together the events that led to the shooting, the small mountain community faces a long road to healing after one of the most shocking acts of violence in its history.
