Canadian police identify British Columbia school shooter as transgender teen

2026-02-11 - 21:55

British Columbia RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald provided significant updates Wednesday on the devastating school shooting that claimed multiple lives in the remote town of Tumbler Ridge. Officials identified the assailant as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, who had reportedly transitioned from male to female beginning approximately six years ago and identified socially and publicly as female. The suspect was discovered deceased inside the school from a self-inflicted wound. Corrected Casualty Figures and Victim Identification McDonald clarified that nine individuals perished in total, correcting earlier reports that had miscounted the fatalities. A female victim initially believed deceased remains hospitalized in serious condition along with another female victim airlifted for emergency treatment. Among the deceased are the suspect's 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother, discovered at a local residence. School victims include a 39-year-old female educator, three 12-year-old female students, and two male students aged 12 and 13. Suspect Background and Mental Health History RCMP confirmed prior police attendance at the Van Rootselaar family residence for calls related to mental health issues. The suspect had withdrawn from formal education approximately four years ago and was not enrolled at the school where the attack occurred. Authorities continue investigating the circumstances surrounding one of Canada's deadliest school shootings, which prompted Prime Minister Mark Carney to order flags at half-mast across all government buildings. Parliament observed a moment of silence honoring the victims.