The individual, named Jesse Van Rootselaar, is believed to have been responsible for a shooting that resulted in the deaths of eight individuals and left many others injured in British Columbia, Canada.
According to police reports, Van Rootselaar was discovered deceased at the scene due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The motive behind this tragic event remains unknown. The shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School claimed the lives of six individuals, with at least 25 others sustaining injuries.
Additionally, two other victims—a 39-year-old mother of the suspect and an 11-year-old step-brother—were found dead at a residence nearby. Authorities have stated that Van Rootselaar was assigned male at birth but identified as female. “I can confirm that Jesse was born a biological male and began transitioning to female approximately six years ago,” said Dwayne McDonald, deputy commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
McDonald noted that the shooting at the nearby home occurred prior to the incident at the school. The victims at the school included a 39-year-old female teacher, three female students aged 12, and two male students, one aged 12 and the other 13.
Authorities do not suspect any additional individuals were involved in the shootings. Police indicated that they had visited the suspect’s family residence multiple times over the years, with some visits related to mental health issues.
McDonald mentioned that Van Rootselaar had previously held a valid gun license, which has since expired. Furthermore, police revealed that Van Rootselaar had dropped out of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School four years prior to the incident.
At approximately 13:30 local time (20:30 GMT) on Tuesday, law enforcement received reports of an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.
Officers arrived on the scene within two minutes of the call, heard gunfire, and entered the school, according to McDonald. Within moments, they located the shooter, who was found deceased from what authorities believe to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities recovered two firearms at the scene—a long gun and a modified handgun—but McDonald stated that the specific roles of these weapons in the shooting remain unclear.
