18-Year-Old With History of Police Visits Identified as Suspect in Deadly Canadian School Shooting
TUMBLER RIDGE, B.C. — The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have identified 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar as the shooter responsible for the February 10 massacre that claimed eight lives and wounded more than 25 others in this remote British Columbia community. Officials confirmed that police had visited the suspect’s home on multiple occasions over the years in response to mental health-related calls.
The attack ranks among Canada’s deadliest school shootings and has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit mountain town of approximately 2,700 residents.
Sequence of Events: Two Scenes of Violence
According to RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, the violence unfolded in two distinct stages on the morning of February 10.
Stage 1: Family Residence
Van Rootselaar first killed her 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother at the family home. A neighbour discovered the scene and contacted emergency services.
Stage 2: Tumbler Ridge Secondary School
The suspect then drove approximately five minutes to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, a public institution serving grades 7 through 12. Once inside, Van Rootselaar opened fire on students and staff.
Police arrived to find an active shooter situation. Officers recovered two firearms at the scene: a long gun and a modified handgun. Neither weapon was registered in the suspect’s name, and Van Rootselaar’s firearms licence had expired in 2024.
Authorities discovered Van Rootselaar inside the building with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators have found no evidence of accomplices.
Casualties and Injuries
The attack left a devastating toll on the small community.
Confirmed fatalities:
At the family home: A 39-year-old mother and her 11-year-old son
At the school: A 39-year-old female teacher and five students aged 12 and 13
More than 25 individuals sustained injuries, many of them students. Several victims required airlifting to specialized medical facilities, and some remain in serious or critical condition.
Witnesses reported that students were in the school library when the shooting began. Other victims were found in stairwells and hallways throughout the building.
Investigation: Mental Health History and Firearms Access
RCMP officials emphasize that no clear motive has been established. Deputy Commissioner McDonald stated there is no indication that any victims were specifically targeted.
Mental health history:
Police had responded to Van Rootselaar’s home multiple times over several years for mental health-related concerns. The suspect had been assessed under British Columbia’s Mental Health Act on prior occasions.
Firearms history:
On at least one previous mental health intervention, officers seized firearms from the residence under Canadian law. Those weapons were later returned following a successful appeal by the lawful owner.
Education status:
Van Rootselaar had withdrawn from Tumbler Ridge Secondary School approximately four years ago. She was not a current student at the time of the attack.
Community and National Response
The shooting has devastated Tumbler Ridge, where residents describe a community in which “everyone knows everyone.”
Local response:
All schools in the district remained closed for the remainder of the week
Grief counselors and support services mobilized throughout the region
Community vigils organized to honor the eight victims
National response:
Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the nation, expressing profound sorrow and solidarity. He ordered flags at all government buildings flown at half-mast for seven days and cancelled planned international travel to remain in Ottawa and coordinate the federal response.
Parliament observed a moment of silence honoring the victims. Provincial and local officials have called for sustained compassion and long-term mental health support for survivors and the broader community.
Context: Mass Violence in Canada
Mass shootings remain rare in Canada, where gun-control laws are comparatively strict. This attack is one of the country’s deadliest since:
The 2020 Nova Scotia rampage, which claimed 22 lives
The 1989 École Polytechnique massacre, which killed 14 women
The Tumbler Ridge tragedy has reignited national conversations about:
Firearm access and weapons return protocols following mental health interventions
Mental health support availability for at-risk youth in rural communities
School safety measures in smaller population centers
Threat assessment protocols for disconnected former students
Path Forward: Investigation and Healing
RCMP investigators continue to examine the suspect’s background, digital footprint, and any potential triggers for the attack. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the RCMP Tumbler Ridge detachment or Crime Stoppers.
For the community of Tumbler Ridge, the path forward is measured in grief, not days. Eight families prepare to bury their dead. Dozens of survivors carry physical and psychological wounds. A town of 2,700 people now joins a painful legacy of communities forever marked by school violence.
As one resident told reporters: “We always thought something like this happens somewhere else. Now somewhere else is here.”
