Tumbler Ridge Shooting: Suspect Identified as 18-Year-Old Jesse Van Rootselaar

Fri Feb 13 2026 02:19:08 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The tragedy in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, sees the suspect identified as Jesse Van Rootselaar, an 18-year-old who reportedly took his own life after the mass shooting that left eight dead and at least 25 injured.

Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, is named the shooter in a horrific incident at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School that resulted in eight fatalities, including six at the school and two at a nearby home. The suspect is believed to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities are investigating the motive and have confirmed no additional suspects.

Tumbler Ridge Shooting: Suspect Identified as 18-Year-Old Jesse Van Rootselaar

An 18-year-old has been named as the suspect in a shooting that killed eight people and injured dozens more in British Columbia, Canada.

Police said Jesse Van Rootselaar was found dead at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot injury. The motive for the attack is not yet known.

Six people were killed and at least 25 others were injured at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Two others - the suspect's mother, 39, and step-brother, 11 - were found dead at a nearby home.

Authorities said Van Rootselaar was born a biological male but identified as a woman. Dwayne McDonald, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) deputy commissioner, confirmed that Jesse began transitioning about six years ago.

The shooting initially occurred at the nearby home before the suspect proceeded to the school, where the majority of the victims were located.

Victims at the school included a 39-year-old educator, and three female students aged 12, along with two male students aged 12 and 13. Authorities do not believe there are multiple suspects involved in the shootings.

Police had previously responded to the suspect's family residence on several occasions, addressing mental health concerns.

Van Rootselaar had a previously valid gun license that has since lapsed.

Emergency services arrived promptly at the school following reports of an active shooter and discovered the shooter deceased from what has been determined as a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Two firearms - a long gun and a modified handgun - were recovered from the scene, but their specific roles in the shootings remain undetermined.

The small town of Tumbler Ridge has a population of around 2,400, and the secondary school serves approximately 160 students from grades 7 to 12.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the cruelty witnessed by the students and teachers, as updates report that some victims remain hospitalized.

Mayor Darryl Krakowka expressed the tight-knit nature of the community, emphasizing his connection to the victims, stating, I will know every victim. I've been here 19 years, and we're a small community.