Understanding the Tumbler Ridge School Shooting
An 18-year old identified as the suspect in Canada’s deadliest school attack in years sparks grief, questions, and broader reflections on violence and community support.
On February 10, 2026, a tight-knit community in the remote mountain town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, experienced an unimaginable tragedy. In one of the worst mass shootings in Canada’s recent history, multiple people lost their lives and dozens were injured in an attack that began at a family home and continued at a local secondary school. As the community and nation begin the long process of mourning and recovery, authorities have released key details about the incident, the suspect, and the broader implications of this heartbreaking event.
The Tragedy Unfolds
Tumbler Ridge, a community of just under 3,000 people nestled in the Canadian Rockies more than 1,000 kilometres northeast of Vancouver, was thrust into global headlines after police confirmed a shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. The incident began early in the afternoon when shots were fired at a residence near the school. Police later identified that two people found dead there the suspect’s mother and stepbrother were victims of those initial shots. Soon after, the gunfire continued at the school itself.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers were alerted by emergency calls and arrived on scene swiftly. Inside the school, they found multiple victims in areas such as the stairwell and library. Authorities confirmed that at least eight people were killed in the attack, including a teacher and several students, and more than 25 others were wounded, some with serious injuries.
Tragically, the suspected shooter was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted wound at the school. Canadian leaders, from the Prime Minister to local officials, expressed deep sorrow and solidarity with the grieving community. Flags across the country were ordered to be flown at half mast and support services mobilised to assist families and residents affected by the events.
Who Was Identified as the Suspect
Police have identified the person believed to have carried out the shootings as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, a resident of Tumbler Ridge. Authorities noted that Van Rootselaar had a history of earlier interactions with police related to mental health concerns, Van Rootselaar Identified as Transgender ,Despite Officials’ Attempts to Hide Biological Gender and officers had been called to the family home on multiple occasions in past years.