Andrea Woo
Nathan VanderKlippeInternational correspondent
Alanna SmithHealth reporter
Justine Hunter
Vancouver
Published 7 hours ago
Updated 22 minutes ago

RCMP have identified the shooter in the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge as Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, a resident of the community.

There was a police history of dealing with mental health calls at the family home, and police had in the past seized firearms from the family home under the Criminal Code.

Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, BC RCMP Commanding Officer, told reporters Wednesday that there are nine people, included the shooter, who are dead, correcting information that was provided Tuesday.

The deceased include one teacher at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and five students between the ages 12 and 13. As well, the shooter’s mother, 39, and 11-year-old stepbrother were found deceased in the family home.


The firearms involved in the shooting were described as a long gun and a modified hand gun. The youth had a firearms licence, which had expired. The RCMP confirmed that the youth was born male and had transitioned to female six years earlier.

Flags in Tumbler Ridge have been lowered to half-mast Wednesday to honour the victims. Tumbler Ridge Secondary School has been closed for the remainder of the week. Bright yellow police tape, orange barriers and police vehicles are blocking entry to the school grounds, where RCMP officers are stationed.

Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka said counsellors are expected to arrive on Wednesday to support a community in grief.

Mr. Krakowka said he broke down when he heard the death toll.

“I have lived here for 18 years,” he said of the community, calling it a “big family.”

“I probably know every one of the victims.”

Prime Minister Mark Carney and international leaders sent messages of condolence Wednesday.

The RCMP have not identified the shooter or the victims and declined to speculate on a motive.

When Grade 7 student Quinn Campbell, 12, first heard shots on Tuesday, a teacher suggested the loud sound may have been produced by something in the school shop.

Moments later, Quinn was told to take cover. She joined roughly 16 other students in the gymnasium equipment room, where they locked the door and turned out the lights.

“I was just thinking about all of my friends, if they were okay. Thinking about my family,” Quinn told The Globe and Mail. They stayed inside for several hours, joined by a teacher.

Her father, Dennis Campbell, is president of the local minor hockey association, which includes 104 players. “Every one of them were in that school,” he said. He believes three of the dead are friends of his daughter.

“I can’t even express how we all feel about what just went on. I don’t know how we’re going to get over it right away,” he said. “It’s devastating for us.”

King Charles III issued a statement saying he and Queen Camilla were “profoundly shocked and saddened” to learn of Tuesday’s mass shooting and expressing sympathy to the families grieving unimaginable loss.

“In such a closely connected town, every child’s name will be known and every family member will be a neighbour,” he said. “We can only begin to imagine the appalling shadow that has now descended across Tumbler Ridge and our hearts go out to all those whose lives have been so shattered by this senseless act of brutal violence.”

“When children are killed, no one should remain indifferent,” he said in a statement. “Such tragedies should never happen anywhere, in any country in the world. We hope that all those who were injured will recover quickly.”

‘It’s just horrible’: Tumbler Ridge reeling after deadly school shooting

French President Emmanuel Macron said that “horror has struck a school in Tumbler Ridge, Canada,” and that France stands alongside the Canadian people.

“Our thoughts are with the families of the victims, the injured and the entire education community,” he said in a statement.

Mr. Carney thanked world leaders who had reached out in compassion.

“Parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers in Tumbler Ridge will wake up without someone they love,” the Prime Minister said to reporters on Parliament Hill Wednesday morning, as his eyes welled with tears.

“The nation mourns with you. Canada stands with you.”

Federal buildings will lower their flags to half-mast for the next week, Mr. Carney said.

With a report from The Canadian Press