What to know about transgender suspect in Tumbler Ridge shooting
A deadly school shooting in the small town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, left nine people dead and 25 injured, including the shooter.Police identified the suspect as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, a local who was biologically male and had transitioned to female; rootselaar died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside the school. Two additional bodies were found in a nearby house—Rootselaar’s mother and an 11-year-old step-brother—allegedly killed before the attack. Investigators recovered a long gun and a modified handgun; firearms had been seized from the home two years earlier, and the suspect held an expired firearms license in 2024 with no guns registered. Authorities have not identified a clear motive or target, and officials said there is no evidence the transition contributed to the shooting. The town has a population of under 3,000, and Canadian Prime minister Mark Carney extended condolences, with government buildings ordered to fly flags at half-mast for a week. Rootselaar had a history of mental-health concerns and had been detained under the Mental Health act for assessment and follow-up.
What to know about transgender suspect in British Columbia school shooting
Canadian police identified a transgender woman on Wednesday as the person responsible for the shooting that left nine people dead, including the suspected shooter, and 25 injured in British Columbia’s Tumbler Ridge Community.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald named 18-year-old Tumbler Ridge resident Jesse Van Rootselaar, who police said was biologically male and transitioned to female, as the shooter who opened fire at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School on Tuesday.
McDonald said one of the bodies inside the school was discovered to be Rootselaar, who was killed by what police described as a “self-inflicted” gunshot wound, and said there are “no outstanding suspects.”
Rootselaar transitioned from male to female about six years ago and subsequently dropped out of school two years later, but McDonald said there is no evidence that Rootselaar dropped out due to bullying because of the transition.
McDonald added there is no reason to believe the suspect’s transition correlates with the shooting.
There was a history of police responses to Rootselaar’s home, including calls related to mental health concerns, McDonald said.
The suspect had previously been detained under the Mental Health Act for assessment and follow-up.
Two more bodies were found in a house near the school, reported to be Rootselaar’s mother and 11-year-old step-brother, who were allegedly killed by Rootselaar before moving to the school.
Rootselaar is suspected of killing a 39-year-old teacher and five students aged 13 and under at the school.
More than 25 additional people were injured during the attack in the small mountain town.
Officers had seized firearms from the suspect’s home two years ago, and the suspect had an expired firearms license in 2024 but had no guns registered, according to Newsweek.
McDonald said a clear motive was not identified, nor was a specific target. He said police recovered a long gun and a modified handgun.
Tumbler Ridge, located near the Alberta border in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, has a population of less than 3,000.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday extended his condolences to the Tumbler Ridge community.
NINE PEOPLE DEAD AND 25 INJURED IN SCHOOL SHOOTING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA
“Parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers in Tumbler Ridge will wake up without someone they love,” Carney said. “The nation mourns with you. Canada stands by you.”
Carney ordered government buildings to fly flags at half-mast for the next week.
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