Canada School Shooting: Transgender Teen Kills 8, Injures 27 in Tumbler Ridge
A mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, on February 10, 2026, saw transgender teen Jesse Van Rootselaar kill 8 people and injure 27 others at a school and nearby home before taking her own life. Police confirmed the 18-year-old shooter identified as female and had a history of mental health issues.
Key Highlights
- Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, identified as the shooter in Tumbler Ridge incident.
- Shooter, who identified as female, killed 8 victims and injured 27.
- Attack occurred at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and her family home.
- Victims included her mother, step-brother, an educator, and five students.
- Police had prior contact regarding the shooter's mental health concerns.
- Motive for the deadly rampage remains under investigation by authorities.
On February 10, 2026, the small mining community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada, was shattered by a tragic mass shooting event that left nine people dead, including the perpetrator, and at least 27 others injured. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) identified the shooter as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, a former student of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.
The rampage began at a nearby residence where Van Rootselaar killed her 39-year-old mother, Jennifer Strang, and 11-year-old half-brother. Following these initial killings, Van Rootselaar proceeded to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, approximately two kilometers away, where she continued the attack. Inside the school, she killed an education assistant and five students, aged between 12 and 13, before dying from what authorities believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. This brought the total number of fatalities to eight victims and the shooter, for a total of nine deceased individuals.
Initial reports varied slightly on the exact number of fatalities, but police later clarified the count. Beyond the deceased, more than 27 individuals sustained injuries, with two being airlifted for serious medical attention. The victims found at the school included a 39-year-old female educator, three 12-year-old female students, and two male students aged 12 and 13. Most of the school victims were found in the library, and one in a stairwell.
Authorities confirmed that Jesse Van Rootselaar was assigned male at birth but had begun transitioning to female about six years prior to the shooting and identified as female, both socially and publicly. RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald stated that it was too early to determine if the shooter's gender identity had any correlation with the investigation. Police had a history of attending the family residence on multiple occasions over the past several years, responding to concerns about Van Rootselaar's mental health, with the most recent visit occurring in the spring of the previous year. Firearms had at one point been seized from the home but were later returned after a petition by their lawful owner. Two firearms, a long gun and a modified handgun, were recovered at the scene.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed profound devastation over the horrific event, and flags at government buildings were lowered to half-staff. The attack marks one of Canada's deadliest mass shootings since 2020 and the deadliest school shooting in the country since the École Polytechnique massacre in 1989. The motive for the shooting remains under active investigation. The news article's claim that Jesse Van Rootselaar was 'hunting' is an interpretation by WION; official police statements have not used this term to describe the motive, which is still being investigated. The reporting of 'disturbing details' is accurate, as further information on the shooter's background and the sequence of events has indeed emerged from various sources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was the shooter in the Tumbler Ridge incident?
The shooter was identified by RCMP as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, a former student of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.
How many people were killed and injured in the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting?
Eight victims were killed, including two family members at home, an educator, and five students at the school. The shooter also died by suicide, bringing the total deceased to nine. At least 27 others were injured.
What is known about Jesse Van Rootselaar's identity?
Jesse Van Rootselaar was assigned male at birth but had transitioned to female approximately six years before the incident and identified as female, both socially and publicly.
What was the motive behind the Tumbler Ridge shooting?
The motive for the mass shooting remains under active investigation by Canadian authorities. Police had a history of responding to the shooter's home for mental health concerns.
When and where did the shooting occur?
The mass shooting occurred on February 10, 2026, in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada, at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and a nearby residence.