18-Year-Old Woman Suspect in Canadian School Shooting: Police

An 18-year-old woman carried out a deadly school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, police said Wednesday. She killed her mother and stepbrother at home before attacking her former school. Authorities identified the suspect as Jesse Van Rootselaar, who died by suicide after the attack. Police revised the death toll down to nine, including the suspect, from an initial ten. Investigators have not yet released a motive for one of Canada’s worst school shootings.

Police said Van Rootselaar had a history of mental health issues and had been assessed under the provincial Mental Health Act several times. Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald said officers visited the family home multiple times over the years. Van Rootselaar, born male but identifying as female for six years, first shot her 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother. She then attacked the school, killing a teacher and six students. Authorities recovered a long gun and a modified handgun at the scene.

The shooting shocked the small, close-knit community of 2,400 people. Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka described the town as “one big family.” Prime Minister Mark Carney postponed a trip to Europe and ordered flags at half-mast for seven days. Legislators observed a moment of silence to honor the victims. Carney said the killings left Canada in shock and mourning. Residents called for support, comfort, and solidarity during the tragedy.

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Several victims remain in the hospital, including a 12-year-old girl named Maya, who sustained gunshot wounds to her head and neck. Police arrived two minutes after the first call and encountered active gunfire. Authorities confirmed Van Rootselaar acted alone and said no evidence suggests anyone was specifically targeted. The suspect had once attended the school but dropped out four years ago. World leaders, including King Charles, sent condolences and expressed shock at the tragedy.

Canada’s stricter gun laws did not prevent the attack. Van Rootselaar previously held a firearms license, which expired in 2024. Authorities had seized family firearms two years ago but returned them after an appeal. The shooting ranks among the deadliest in Canadian history, following past tragedies in Nova Scotia in 2020 and Montreal in 1989. Investigations continue as the community mourns the victims and seeks answers about the attack.