{"id":2569218,"date":"2026-02-12T08:44:58","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T13:44:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-to-know-about-transgender-suspect-in-tumbler-ridge-shooting\/"},"modified":"2026-02-12T08:47:38","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T13:47:38","slug":"what-to-know-about-transgender-suspect-in-tumbler-ridge-shooting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-to-know-about-transgender-suspect-in-tumbler-ridge-shooting\/","title":{"rendered":"What to know about transgender suspect in Tumbler Ridge shooting"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fwhat-to-know-about-transgender-suspect-in-tumbler-ridge-shooting%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2569218&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/detroit-area-schools-closed-due-to-threats-of-violence-following-oxford-school-shooting\/\" title=\"Detroit-Area ...s Closed Due to &#039;Threats of Violence&#039; Following Oxford ...\">deadly school shooting<\/a> 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<a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >-inflicted gunshot wound inside<\/a> the school. Two additional bodies were found in a nearby house\u2014Rootselaar\u2019s mother and an 11-year-old <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-to-know-about-transgender-suspect-in-tumbler-ridge\/\" title=\"What to know about transgender ... in ...\">step-brother\u2014allegedly killed<\/a> 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-anti-china-bill-encourages-hiring-of-chinese-scientists\/\" title=\"House anti-China Bill Encourages Hiring of Chinese Scientists\">mental-health concerns<\/a> and had been detained under the Mental Health act for assessment and follow-up.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">What to know about transgender suspect in British Columbia school shooting<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2502361\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/canada\/\">Canadian<\/a> police identified a transgender woman on Wednesday as the person responsible for the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/shootings\/\">shooting<\/a> that left nine people dead, including the suspected shooter, and 25 injured&nbsp;in British Columbia&rsquo;s<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4453694\/nine-people-killed-and-25-injured-in-school-shooting-in-british-columbia\/\"> Tumbler Ridge Community<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>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.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4453812\/nancy-guthrie-search-stalls-after-authorities-release-detained-suspect\/\">Nancy Guthrie search stalls after authorities release detained suspect<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4453615\/person-of-interest-detained-nancy-guthrie-abduction\/\">Person of interest detained for questioning in Nancy Guthrie abduction case<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4452844\/ice-leader-todd-lyons-declines-defend-kristi-noem-amid-calls-for-resignation\/\">ICE leader Todd Lyons declines to defend Kristi Noem amid calls for her resignation<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>McDonald <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/xQla8ujwvCE?si=FX0kZ7iXn6t3TKQD\">said one of the bodies inside the school<\/a> was discovered to be Rootselaar, who was killed by what police described as a &ldquo;self-inflicted&rdquo; gunshot wound, and said there are &ldquo;no outstanding suspects.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Rootselaar transitioned from male to female about six years ago and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/live\/cr5lnzqdr5pt\">subsequently dropped out of school<\/a> two years later, but McDonald said there is no evidence that Rootselaar dropped out due to bullying because of the transition.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>McDonald added there is no reason to believe the suspect&rsquo;s transition correlates with the shooting.<\/p>\n<p>There was a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4453694\/nine-people-killed-and-25-injured-in-school-shooting-in-british-columbia\/\">history of police responses<\/a> to Rootselaar&rsquo;s home, including calls related to mental health concerns, McDonald said.<\/p>\n<p>The suspect had previously been detained under the Mental Health Act for assessment and follow-up.<\/p>\n<p>Two more bodies were found in a house near the school, reported to be Rootselaar&rsquo;s mother and 11-year-old step-brother, who were allegedly killed by Rootselaar before moving to the school.<\/p>\n<p>Rootselaar is suspected of killing a 39-year-old teacher and five students aged 13 and under at the school.<\/p>\n<p>More than 25 additional people were injured during the attack in the small mountain town.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Officers had seized firearms from the suspect&rsquo;s home two years ago, and the suspect had an expired firearms license in 2024 but had no guns registered, according to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.newsweek.com\/who-is-jesse-van-rootselaar-suspect-canada-school-shooting-11502783\"><em>Newsweek<\/em><\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>McDonald said a clear motive was not identified, nor was a specific target. He said police recovered a long gun and a modified handgun.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Tumbler Ridge, located near the Alberta border in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.point2homes.com\/CA\/Demographics\/BC\/Tumbler-Ridge-Demographics.html\">has a population<\/a> of less than 3,000.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Canadian Prime Minister <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/mark-carney\/\">Mark Carney<\/a> on Wednesday <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MarkJCarney\/status\/2021631804562608371?s=20\">extended his condolences<\/a> to the Tumbler Ridge community.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4453694\/nine-people-killed-and-25-injured-in-school-shooting-in-british-columbia\/\"><strong>NINE PEOPLE DEAD AND 25 INJURED IN SCHOOL SHOOTING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers in Tumbler Ridge will wake up without someone they love,&rdquo; Carney said. &ldquo;The nation mourns with you. Canada stands by you.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Carney ordered government buildings to fly flags at half-mast for the next week.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Transgender suspect named in BC school shooting<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2569219,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26042630824643.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[73658,4300,4230,4019,73657],"class_list":["post-2569218","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-british-columbia-2","tag-shooting","tag-suspect","tag-transgender","tag-tumbler-ridge"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26042630824643.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2569218","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2569218"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2569218\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2569222,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2569218\/revisions\/2569222"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2569219"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2569218"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2569218"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2569218"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}