Canada's Deadly School Shooting: How a Transgender High School Plotted the Crime

The peaceful community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, has been shattered by the deadliest school shooting in Canadian history. Authorities have confirmed that 10 people are dead, including the teenage suspect, following a violent rampage that spanned a private residence and a secondary school.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have identified the shooter as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar. According to police, the violence began at the suspect's home before moving to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where students and staff were forced into lockdown for hours. The magnitude of the tragedy has left the small town in mourning as investigators piece together the events of that Tuesday afternoon.

Police Reveal Suspect History and Weapon Details

Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, the commanding officer for the RCMP in British Columbia, provided crucial details regarding the suspect. McDonald stated that Van Rootselaar was known to police, as officers had responded to her home for mental health-related calls over the last several years. Some of these previous interactions involved concerns regarding weapons.

Van Rootselaar was a former student of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School but had dropped out approximately four years ago. McDonald confirmed that the 18-year-old identified as female but was assigned male at birth, noting that she began to transition about six years ago. Investigators have not yet found a suicide note, though they acknowledge the possibility that one may have been written.

During the investigation at the school, officers recovered a long gun and a modified handgun. Authorities confirmed that neither weapon was registered to Van Rootselaar. Furthermore, records show that the suspect's firearms licence had expired in 2024. Police emphasized that the suspect was not related to any of the victims found at the school.

Timeline of the Attacks in Tumbler Ridge

The RCMP has released a specific timeline of how the violence unfolded on Tuesday, February 10. The first indication of danger came at approximately 2:20 p.m., when police received a call regarding an active shooter at the secondary school. A public alert was immediately issued, instructing residents to shelter in place and avoid the area. At that time, witnesses described the suspect as a 'female in a dress with brown hair.'

While officers rushed to the school, a separate tragedy was discovered. At 2:47 p.m., police were called to a secondary residence, now identified as the suspect's family home. There, they found two deceased individuals: 39-year-old Jennifer Strang, the suspect's mother, and an 11-year-old boy believed to be her stepbrother.

Back at the school, the situation remained volatile until 4:16 p.m., when police located the suspect. She was found deceased from what appeared to be a self-inflicted injury. It was not until approximately 4:50 p.m. that teams began evacuating students who had been hiding in classrooms.

Terror Inside the Classroom

For the students inside, the afternoon was a surreal nightmare. Darian Quist, a Grade 12 student, spoke to reporters about the ordeal. He was barricaded in a classroom with his teachers and about 14 classmates for over two hours.

'For a while, I didn't think anything was going on,' Quist admitted, initially believing it might be a drill. However, as disturbing images of blood began circulating on student phones, the reality set in. When police finally arrived around 4:50 p.m. to escort them out, the atmosphere was tense.

Another parent, Dennis Campbell, shared a harrowing account of his daughter's experience. She called him whilst hiding in the gymnasium's equipment room. Campbell said he could hardly believe it when she whispered, 'Dad, there's a shooting. There's a shooting here.' Tragically, Campbell's daughter lost four friends in the attack.

Community Mourns Loss of Teacher and Students

The toll on human life has been devastating. Inside the high school, six victims were found dead. These included a 39-year-old female teacher, three girls aged 12, and two boys, aged 12 and 13. According to the RCMP, one student was discovered in a stairwell, whilst the others were found in the school library.

Although officials have not officially released all names, community members are sharing their grief. Linda Muise, a worship leader at the New Life Assembly, spoke fondly of one of the 12-year-old victims who attended her church. 'Always a smile on his face, pleasant boy,' she recalled, noting he was close friends with her grandson.

In addition to the 10 deceased, 27 people were injured during the rampage. Two victims were airlifted to hospital with serious or life-threatening injuries. One patient remains in critical condition and is receiving specialised care at B.C. Children's Hospital in Vancouver, while another in serious condition was transferred to a facility in the Lower Mainland.