VANCOUVER, British Columbia (MNN); An 18-year-old girl with a history of police visits related to mental health concerns carried out a deadly shooting at a school in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, killing eight people before taking her own life, authorities confirmed Wednesday.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald identified the suspect as Jesse Van Rootselaar. He said she first killed her 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother at their home before launching an attack at a nearby school in the small mountain town.
Police clarified that eight people were killed in total, correcting an earlier statement that reported nine fatalities. The confusion stemmed from a critically injured victim who was airlifted to a hospital and initially believed to have died. More than 25 others were wounded in the attack.
Among the victims at the school were a 39-year-old teacher and five students aged between 12 and 13. One body was found in a stairwell, while others were located in the library. Authorities said there was no indication that specific individuals were targeted.
Police recovered a long gun and a modified handgun from the scene. Officers arrived at the school within two minutes of receiving the emergency call and came under fire upon arrival.
The remote town of Tumbler Ridge, home to around 2,700 residents, is located in the Canadian Rockies near the Alberta border, more than 1,000 kilometers northeast of Vancouver.
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed deep sorrow, saying, “The nation mourns with you, and Canada stands by you.” Flags at government buildings will remain at half-staff for seven days. The attack marks Canada’s deadliest mass shooting since 2020, when a gunman in Nova Scotia killed 22 people in a rampage.
The community has been left devastated. Mayor Darryl Krakowka described the town as a “big family” and said he likely knew every victim. Schools in the district will remain closed for the rest of the week.
Authorities are still investigating the motive behind the attack.
