Canadian authorities have identified an 18-year-old as the suspect in a mass shooting that left eight people dead and more than two dozen injured in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed that Jesse Van Rootselaar was discovered inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School with what investigators described as a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Officials said the motive behind the attack remains under investigation.
Six victims were killed at the school, while two additional victims — identified as the suspect’s 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother — were found deceased at a nearby residence.
Police believe the shooting at the home occurred first before the suspect travelled to the school.
Victims at the School
Authorities said the school victims included a 39-year-old female educator, three 12-year-old girls, a 12-year-old boy and a 13-year-old boy.
At least 25 others were injured during the attack, and two individuals remain hospitalised after being transported by air ambulance.
Police said there is no indication of additional suspects involved.
Timeline of the Incident
Officers received reports of an active shooter at approximately 13:30 local time (20:30 GMT) on Tuesday. According to RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, police arrived within two minutes, heard gunfire and immediately entered the building.
The suspect was located within minutes and found deceased.
Two firearms — a long gun and a modified handgun — were recovered at the scene. Investigators are still determining how each weapon was used during the attack.
Background Information
Police confirmed that Van Rootselaar had previously held a valid firearms licence, though it had expired. Authorities also stated that officers had responded to calls at the family home in recent years, some of which were related to mental health concerns.
McDonald said the suspect was born biologically male and had begun transitioning approximately six years ago.
Officials noted that Van Rootselaar had left Tumbler Ridge Secondary School four years earlier.
Community in Mourning
Tumbler Ridge is a rural community of about 2,400 residents, and its secondary school serves approximately 160 students from Grades 7 to 12.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the tragedy as an act of “unheard of cruelty,” acknowledging that several victims remain hospitalised.
Mayor Darryl Krakowka told Canadian media that the close-knit town is grieving deeply.
“I will know every victim,” he said after the shelter-in-place order was lifted. “We’re a small community. I don’t call them residents — I call them family.”
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities continue to examine evidence and piece together the events leading up to the shooting. While the immediate threat has ended, investigators are working to determine the motive and broader circumstances behind one of the deadliest attacks in the province’s recent history.