Canadian police have identified 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar as the shooter responsible for one of the deadliest school attacks in the country’s recent history, leaving eight people dead and approximately 27 injured in the remote community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed on Wednesday that Van Rootselaar killed her 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother at their family residence before attacking Tumbler Ridge Secondary School on Tuesday afternoon. The shooter was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside the school.
Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald told reporters that Van Rootselaar, assigned male at birth, had been transitioning to female for approximately six years and identified publicly as female. The 18-year-old had dropped out of school about four years ago and was not currently enrolled at the time of the attack.
Six victims were discovered inside the school, including a 39-year-old female educator, three 12-year-old girls, and two boys aged 12 and 13. Most victims were found in the school library, with one located in a stairwell. Police recovered a long gun and a modified handgun at the scene.
RCMP received reports of an active shooter at approximately 1:20 p.m. Mountain Standard Time on Tuesday. Officers arrived within two minutes and encountered active gunfire, including rounds fired in their direction as they approached the building. The emergency alert was cancelled at 5:45 p.m. after authorities determined there was no ongoing threat.
Among the injured, two female victims remain in serious condition after being airlifted to hospital. One victim, 12-year-old Maya Gebala, sustained critical injuries to her head and neck and is currently receiving treatment at Vancouver Children’s Hospital. Police initially reported one airlifted victim had died during transport, but later confirmed she survived.
McDonald revealed that police had attended the Van Rootselaar family residence on multiple occasions over recent years concerning mental health issues. The most recent visit occurred in spring 2025 regarding concerns about mental health and self-harm. Two years prior, firearms were seized from the residence but were later returned following a petition.
The suspect was not related to any of the school victims, and investigators have found no evidence that specific individuals were targeted. McDonald stated that authorities believe Van Rootselaar acted alone, with no outstanding suspects. The motive for the attack remains unclear, and police have not yet found any written note or manifesto.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney cancelled a planned trip to Halifax and Munich to address the tragedy. Speaking emotionally in Parliament, he announced that flags at government buildings would fly at half-mast for seven days. British Columbia Premier David Eby praised the rapid police response, stating that officers’ speed and professionalism saved lives.
Tumbler Ridge, a town of approximately 2,700 people located in the Canadian Rockies more than 1,000 kilometers northeast of Vancouver, has declared the remainder of the week a period of mourning. Both the secondary school and elementary school will remain closed. Mayor Darryl Krakowka described the community as a family, stating he likely knows every victim personally.
The attack marks Canada’s deadliest mass shooting since 2020, when a gunman in Nova Scotia killed 13 people and set fires that resulted in nine additional deaths. It is the second deadliest school shooting in Canadian history, following the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal that claimed 14 lives.
Approximately 100 students and faculty members were evacuated from the school once authorities confirmed the scene was secure. Additional victims received treatment at a local clinic for non-life-threatening injuries.
RCMP Superintendent Ken Floyd acknowledged that investigators are not yet in a position to understand what motivated the tragedy. The investigation continues as police search other homes and properties in the community to determine if additional sites are connected to the incident.
King Charles III, Canada’s head of state, and the Canadian Olympic Committee expressed condolences. The shooting occurred while Canadian athletes were competing at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
