Tumbler Ridge school shooting leaves 9 dead; suspect named
Tumbler Ridge school shooting leaves 9 dead; suspect named
A remote British Columbia town reels after an 18-year-old opened fire at two locations, killing nine, including the attacker; investigators examine mental health history and possible motives.
In the remote mountain town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, a day of violence shattered the quiet. On Tuesday, an 18-year-old opened fire at two locations, a private residence and later at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, killing nine people in total including the attacker before the gunman died by suicide. The incident unfolded across the two sites in a community of roughly 2,400 residents, sending shockwaves through a place where such events are exceedingly rare. As investigators pieced together the timeline, residents huddled in local churches and schools, wondering how a single act could upend a town that has long been defined by its rugged terrain, resourceful residents, and tight-knit relationships.
Authorities publicly identified the shooter as Jesse van Rootselaar, 18. The person had previously attended Tumbler Ridge Secondary School but left the campus several years earlier. Officials described a documented history of mental health interventions and prior contact with law enforcement, factors that investigators say they will consider as they search for any possible motives. The gender identification noted in early reporting has been acknowledged by police, with officials saying the suspect had begun identifying as female years before the attack. Police have not released a motive; they say the investigation is active and ongoing.
Two separate scenes marked the tragedy: a private residence where several victims were found, and the school, where more lives were lost in the ensuing hours. By Wednesday afternoon, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed the overall death toll stood at nine—nine lives lost including the attacker—after an earlier miscount that had included a critically injured person among the dead. The RCMP said the investigation would examine a range of factors, including the suspect's online life, social media activity, access to firearms, and the community's response to what happened.
RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald led the briefing, noting that investigators are reviewing surveillance footage, interviewing witnesses, and coordinating with provincial authorities as they work to understand the sequence of events and the motives—if any—that drove the attack. The small towns across Canada have been reminded of how rare but devastating mass shootings can be, and leaders pledged support for residents in the weeks ahead as grief counselors and community groups mobilize.
Living rooms, schools, and town halls across the province are now centers of mourning and questions. Local officials have promised to review safety and support systems, from school security protocols to mental health services, to prevent future tragedies. In Tumbler Ridge, residents say they will lean on one another as they begin to heal from a day that will be remembered for its silence after a storm of gunfire.
