Canadian police have named an 18-year-old woman as the suspect in a rare and devastating school shooting that rocked the remote town of Tumbler Ridge in British Columbia. The attack took place on February 10, 2026, and ended with several victims killed and many others injured. Authorities confirmed that the suspect, identified as Jesse Van Rootselaar, died by suicide at the scene.
Local residents woke to terror when the young woman first fatally shot her 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother at their family home. Police then say she drove to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where she opened fire inside the building, killing a teacher, multiple students and wounding others before taking her own life.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have confirmed that the death toll stands at nine, including the shooter. The victims include adults and school-aged children. At least 25 people were injured, with several in serious condition in hospital, authorities said.
Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald said police had previously been called to the suspect’s home on several occasions over concerns related to her mental health, but he did not provide a clear motive for the attack. “Police had attended that (family) residence on multiple occasions over the past several years, dealing with concerns of mental health with respect to our suspect,” McDonald told reporters at a press briefing.
The suspect had dropped out of the same school she later attacked about four years ago, police said. She had held a firearm licence that expired in 2024, and earlier television reports said officers had seized and later returned firearms from the family home during past mental health related visits.
Tumbler Ridge, a small community of roughly 2,400 people, is far from major Canadian cities. The tragedy has shaken the town and drawn national and international attention because mass shootings are rare in Canada, where gun control laws are stricter than in many other countries.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney described the shootings as “devastating” and ordered flags at half-mast. He and other officials have been offering condolences to grieving families and emphasised support for those affected. The RCMP continue to investigate the circumstances and motive behind the attack.
