February 11, 2026
Parteek Singh Mahal
The BC RCMP has officially identified the suspect behind Tuesday’s horrific mass shooting in the small northeastern community of Tumbler Ridge.
The shooter has been named as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, a local resident. Authorities confirmed that the suspect died at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after a violent rampage that spanned a local residence and a secondary school.
The violence began Tuesday afternoon in British Columbia’s Peace Region. At approximately 1:20 p.m., Tumbler Ridge RCMP received reports of an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Local officers arrived within two minutes and were immediately met with gunfire directed at them. After entering the building to neutralize the threat, officers discovered Van Rootselaar deceased. While initial reports on Tuesday suggested 10 fatalities, police corrected the number on Wednesday, confirming that a total of nine people died, including the shooter. A female victim previously thought to have died is currently alive and receiving hospital treatment.
The list of victims paints a heartbreaking picture of the tragedy. At the school, those killed include a 39-year-old female educator, three 12-year-old female students, and two male students aged 12 and 13. Additionally, a 39-year-old woman and an 11-year-old boy were found dead at a nearby residence. BC RCMP confirmed that these two victims were the suspect’s mother and step-brother. Approximately 25 other individuals were treated for minor injuries following the chaos at the school.
BC RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald provided significant details regarding the suspect’s history and the tools used in the attack. Investigators recovered a long gun and a modified handgun from the scene. McDonald revealed that although Van Rootselaar was assigned male at birth, she identified as a female and had begun her transition about six years ago. It was also noted that she was a former student of the school but had dropped out approximately four years prior.
The investigation has further revealed a history of police interaction with the suspect. RCMP had responded to the family home multiple times over the last several years for mental health-related calls, some of which involved weapons. Firearms had previously been seized from the residence, but they were later returned to the legal owner following a formal petition. The BC RCMP Major Crime Unit has now taken command of the case to determine the motive and the exact origin of the weapons used in this senseless act of violence.
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