Tumbler Ridge Shooting: 18-Year-Old Identified as Suspect in Tragic Incident

Fri Feb 13 2026 02:10:57 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Authorities in Tumbler Ridge have identified 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar as the suspect in a shooting that claimed eight lives and injured numerous others, including students and educators at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. The community mourns the loss in an unprecedented tragedy.

In a shocking event at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar has been named the suspect behind a mass shooting that resulted in eight fatalities and many injuries. Authorities confirmed that Van Rootselaar died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene, with two firearms recovered. The motives behind the attack remain unknown as the community grapples with the aftermath.

Shooting Incident Overview

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 stated that Van Rootselaar was born biologically male but identified as a woman.

The Sequence of Events

The shooting at the nearby home occurred first, followed by the attack at the school, according to Dwayne McDonald, the RCMP deputy commissioner.

The victims at the school included a 39-year-old female educator and three female students, all aged 12, along with two male students aged 12 and 13. Authorities do not believe there are other suspects involved.

Van Rootselaar had a previously valid gun license that has since lapsed. Police had responded to the family home multiple times in the past years concerning mental health issues.

Police Response

At approximately 13:30 local time, police received reports of an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, arriving on the scene within two minutes. They entered the school immediately upon hearing gunfire and located the deceased shooter within minutes.

Authorities found two firearms—a long gun and a modified handgun—at the scene, but the exact role they played in the shootings remains unclear. Victims were quickly located, with some needing air ambulance transport to hospitals.

Community Reaction

Tumbler Ridge, a town of about 2,400 residents, has expressed deep tragedy in the wake of these events. Prime Minister Mark Carney acknowledged the cruelty witnessed by the students and faculty, some of whom are still fighting for their lives in hospitals.

The small, tight-knit community is reeling as Mayor Darryl Krakowka remarked that he personally knew many victims and referred to them as family.