An 18-year-old woman with a history of mental health struggles identified as killer of her family and six others before committing suicide.
Canadian authorities have identified Jesse Van Rootselaar as the shooter who killed eight people and injured dozens more in the remote community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. The revised death toll of nine includes the suspect, who police say acted alone before taking her own life as officers arrived.
The tragedy began at a private residence where Van Rootselaar killed her 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother. She then proceeded to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, her former school, where she opened fire with a long gun and a modified handgun. The victims included:
A 39-year-old female teacher.
Five students aged 12 and 13.
Over 25 others injured, with several remaining in critical condition
According to RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald ,confirmed that police had visited the suspect’s home multiple times in recent years regarding mental health concerns. Although firearms had been seized from the home two years ago, they were later returned following a legal appeal.
While Van Rootselaar’s firearms license had expired in 2024, the investigation is now focusing on how she accessed the weapons used in the massacre. Prime Minister Mark Carney has ordered flags to fly at half-mast across the country, stating, “The nation mourns with you.”
