Deadly School and Home Shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia: 8 Victims and Shooter Dead
Photo by Denise Jans on Unsplash
18-year-old former student kills family members then opens fire at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School; multiple victims and injuries reported as police investigate motives and mental health history.
TUMBLER RIDGE, B.C. (Canada) — A Deadly School Shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia Leaves the Community Devastated.
A small, remote town in northeastern British Columbia was shaken by extreme violence after a former student carried out a deadly attack that began at home and ended inside a public school.
On February 10, 2026, an 18-year-old former student, Jesse Van Rootselaar, carried out a shooting spree in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., killing multiple people, including children and a teacher, before dying from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Violence Began at Home
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the attack began at a private residence, where Van Rootselaar killed a 39-year-old parent and an 11-year-old step-sibling. Authorities later confirmed that law enforcement had responded to multiple prior mental-health-related calls at the home before the attack.
Attack at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School
After the domestic killings, the shooter traveled to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, a public school serving grades 7–12. Gunfire erupted inside the school, killing a teacher and several students.
Victims at the school included:
Three 12-year-old girls
One 12-year-old boy
One 13-year-old boy
A 39-year-old teacher
More than two dozen others were injured, with several suffering serious or life-threatening wounds. Some victims were airlifted to hospitals by emergency medical helicopters.
RCMP officers arrived within minutes of the first emergency call and encountered active gunfire while approaching the building. Police later stated that the shooter acted alone and that there was no ongoing threat to the public.
Shooter Background and Mental Health History
Authorities identified Jesse Van Rootselaar as a former student of the school. Media reports confirmed that Van Rootselaar was biologically male and identified as transgender, and had a documented history of mental illness, including repeated interactions with police related to mental-health crises.
Police also confirmed that the shooter’s firearms license had expired prior to the attack.
While investigators have stated that it is “too early to speculate on motive,” the case has drawn widespread attention because of the intersection of severe mental illness, gender identity issues, and institutional failures to intervene before violence occurred.
Broader Public Debate and Institutional Accountability
The shooting has reignited debate in both Canada and the United States over the role of public schools, government agencies, and media institutions in promoting gender ideology while, critics argue, downplaying or obscuring serious mental-health concerns.
Parents and advocacy groups have raised questions about:
Whether warning signs were ignored or normalized
Whether ideological frameworks in schools discouraged intervention
Whether media coverage has minimized or reframed key facts about the shooter’s background
Whether political pressure has discouraged honest discussion about mental illness and public safety
Critics argue that ideological affirmation without adequate mental-health treatment places vulnerable individuals — and the public — at risk, particularly in school environments where children are present.
Community Mourning and National Response
The community of Tumbler Ridge held vigils and memorials as residents mourned the victims. Canadian officials ordered flags lowered in honor of those killed, and counseling services were deployed to the town.
Despite national expressions of sympathy, many families are demanding more than condolences. Calls for accountability, transparency, and systemic reform continue as investigators review the shooter’s history and institutional responses leading up to the attack.
A Tragedy With Lasting Consequences
This attack stands as one of the deadliest school shootings in Canadian history and serves as a grim reminder of the consequences of unaddressed mental illness, institutional blind spots, and policy decisions that prioritize ideology over safety.
For the families who lost children and loved ones, the cost is permanent.
Sources:
BBC News – Canada shooting latest / police name suspect
➤ BBC News article on the suspect and shooting detailsCNN – Coverage of the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting
➤ CNN reported details and updates on the shooting and investigationCBC News – Live updates and local reporting
➤ CBC provided live updates on the shootings with RCMP statements and victim informationThe Independent – Profile on Jesse Van Rootselaar and identification
➤ Article identifying the suspected shooter and background contextReuters / CityNews – Official RCMP updates and details
➤ Reuters-sourced reporting on responding law enforcement, weapons recovered, and RCMP statementsRoyal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) – Official Press Release
➤ Official update from the RCMP on the shootings, suspect discovery, injuries, and evacuation
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