A quiet mountain community in British Columbia faces an unimaginable tragedy after one of Canada’s deadliest mass shootings unfolded in the span of hours on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. Authorities have now identified the suspect responsible for the devastating attack that claimed eight lives and left dozens injured.
The suspect, identified as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, a former student at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, initiated the violence at a private residence before continuing the attack at her former school approximately two kilometers away. According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Van Rootselaar was found deceased at the scene from an apparent self-inflicted injury.
A Community in Shock
Tumbler Ridge, a tight-knit mining town nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains with a population of just 2,400 people, never imagined it would join the tragic list of Canadian communities devastated by mass violence. The shooting unfolded in the early afternoon hours when police received reports of an active shooter at the secondary school at approximately 2:20 p.m. MST.
The response was swift. RCMP officers from the local detachment arrived within just two minutes of the initial call. Upon arrival, officers encountered gunfire directed at them as they approached the building. Students, sensing the danger unfolding around them, immediately barricaded themselves in classrooms, using tables and other furniture to reinforce classroom doors. An emergency lockdown was initiated across the school and surrounding area institutions.
Premier David Eby later commended the rapid police response, noting that the quick action of officers helped prevent an even more catastrophic outcome. The police alert system was activated at around 3:15 p.m., instructing residents to shelter in place. The all-clear signal was issued at 6:45 p.m. that evening.
The Sequence of Events
According to RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, the violence began at Van Rootselaar’s family residence, where she fatally shot her 39-year-old mother and an 11-year-old half-brother, Emmett Jacobs. Following these initial killings, the suspect traveled approximately two kilometers to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where she had been a student four years prior before dropping out.
At the school, Van Rootselaar opened fire in the library and other areas, killing five students and one education assistant before taking her own life as officers approached. The exact identities of all victims have not been fully disclosed to protect the privacy of families during this time of unimaginable grief.
“There was no specific targeting of any individuals,” McDonald stated during an official press conference. “This suspect was, for lack of a better term, hunting.” This revelation indicates the attack was indiscriminate, making the tragedy even more senseless to the grieving community.
Troubling Background
Investigators quickly began examining Van Rootselaar’s personal history, uncovering details that painted a picture of a troubled teenager with significant mental health challenges. RCMP confirmed that police had made multiple visits to the family residence over the past several years, with officers responding to concerns related to mental health issues and self-harm.
In at least one instance, Van Rootselaar was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and transported to a hospital for psychiatric assessment. The most recent police visit to the residence occurred in spring 2025, when authorities responded to mental health and self-harm concerns. Despite this history of contact with law enforcement, Van Rootselaar was not currently under any formal restrictions.
Van Rootselaar’s childhood was marked by instability. Court records from family custody disputes reveal that she and her siblings had led an “almost nomadic” life, moving frequently between Newfoundland, Labrador, and British Columbia between 2010 and 2015. Her father reportedly had limited involvement in her upbringing due to custody arrangements and decisions made by her mother.
According to RCMP Deputy Commissioner McDonald, Van Rootselaar was assigned male at birth and began identifying and transitioning as female approximately six years ago. She had dropped out of school about four years prior to the shooting and was not currently enrolled in any educational institution.
Firearms and Warning Signs
The investigation revealed that Van Rootselaar had previously held a minor’s firearms license, which allowed her to borrow non-restricted firearms. However, this license had expired in 2024, and no firearms were registered to her name. Two weapons were recovered at the school—a modified handgun and a long gun—and investigators are working to determine how these weapons were obtained and by whom.
Troublingly, police had seized firearms from the family residence approximately two years prior, citing concerns under the Criminal Code. However, the lawful owner of the weapons subsequently petitioned for their return, and authorities complied. The investigation continues to examine how this sequence of events may have contributed to the tragedy.
Social media accounts connected to Van Rootselaar revealed a person deeply interested in weapons and firearms. A YouTube channel appeared to feature content about hunting and self-reliance. Her mother had even promoted the channel on her own Facebook page in 2021, encouraging others to view her son’s content about “hunting, self reliance, guns and stuff he likes to do.”
Additionally, concerning online activity indicated that Van Rootselaar had followed content related to other mass shooting incidents and struggled with significant mental health challenges, including what appeared to be depression and suicidal ideation expressed through various social media platforms.
The Town Responds
As the gravity of the tragedy settled over Tumbler Ridge, the small community came together in profound grief. Hundreds of residents gathered for a candlelight vigil at the community center on Wednesday evening, where Mayor Darryl Krakowka, visibly moved, addressed the assembled mourners.
“There are moments when words feel far too small for the sorrow we are carrying together,” Krakowka said. “In a place where we know each other by name, where we pass one another in the grocery store and gather at the same community events, this loss feels deeply personal to us all.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney canceled scheduled trips to Halifax and the Munich Security Conference to address Parliament. Flags at government buildings were lowered to half-staff for seven days. The emotional impact resonated across the nation, with political leaders from all parties expressing shock and condolences.
“Parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers in Tumbler Ridge will wake up without someone they love,” Carney said during an emotional address. “The nation mourns with you, and Canada stands by you.”
British Columbia declared Thursday a day of provincial mourning. The Tumbler Ridge School District announced that both the secondary school and elementary school would remain closed for the remainder of the week to allow the community time to grieve and process the unimaginable loss.
A Rare but Devastating Reality
While mass shootings remain rare in Canada due to strict federal gun-control laws, this attack became the deadliest mass shooting in the nation since the 2020 Nova Scotia rampage that claimed 13 lives and set fires resulting in nine additional deaths. For the school system specifically, it represents the deadliest school shooting in Canada since the École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal in 1989, which killed 14 women.
The Tumbler Ridge tragedy has reignited national conversations about mental health support systems, firearm regulations, and the warning signs that may precede such violence. As the small community begins the painful process of healing and remembering those lost, questions remain about how such a tragedy could unfold despite prior police contact and known mental health struggles.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to examine all aspects of the case and work to determine if there were any identifiable warning signs or intervention opportunities that may have been missed.