JESSE Van Rootselaar, 18, a transgender female, has been identified as the suspected Tumbler Ridge shooter, whom police confirmed died by self-inflicted wound. The youth was born male but had transitioned to female six years earlier.
RCMP now say nine people, including the alleged shooter, are dead.
The six victims found inside the school included a female teacher, three teen girls and two teen boys. One victim was found dead in a stairwell. The others were found in the library. The teen girl patient believed to have died en route to hospital survived.
The two individuals found dead inside a home were Van Rootselaar’s mother and step brother, according to police.
RCMP said there was a police history of dealing with mental health calls at the home. Firearms had been seized from the home by police in the past under the Criminal Code. A long gun and a modified hand gun were involved in Tuesday’s shooting. The youth had a firearms license, which had expired.
In an update, the RCMP said in a press statement that on February 10, at approximately 1:20 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, Tumbler Ridge RCMP received a report of an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. A Police Initiated Public Alert (PIPA) was issued as officers responded.
Police from Tumbler Ridge RCMP and surrounding detachments immediately attended, with members from the local detachment arriving within two minutes of the initial call. Upon arrival, there was active gunfire, and as officers approached the school, rounds were fired in their direction.
Officers entered the school to locate the threat. Within minutes an individual, confirmed to be the shooter, was located deceased with what appeared to be a self-inflicted injury. The suspect has been identified as 18-year-old, Jesse Van Rootselaar, who is a resident of Tumbler Ridge.
Two firearms, a long gun and a modified handgun, were recovered by responding officers. Determining the origin of these firearms and what role they played in the shootings remains part of the active investigation.
Multiple victims were located throughout the school, along with approximately 25 individuals with possible injuries. Once it was determined to be safe, officers evacuated over 100 students and faculty to a local community centre while police continued to assess whether any ongoing threats remained. Those with potential injuries were transported to the local medical clinic for triage and assessment, and two victims with significant injuries were transported to hospital via air ambulance. Following medical assessment of individuals taken to the local medical clinic, no discernible physical injuries were identified.
Police said they would like to correct information shared on Tuesday and clarify that nine people, including the shooter are deceased as a result of this incident. Initially, it was believed that a female victim with significant injuries, who was transported from the scene by police and transitioned to paramedics, had succumbed to her injuries. Police have since confirmed she is one of the two female victims airlifted to hospital. Both victims, a 12-year-old and 19-year-old female, remain in serious condition.
The deceased victims from the school include a 39-year-old female educator, three 12-year-old female students, and two male students, ages 12 and 13. Two additional victims, a 39-year-old female and 11-year-old male, were located deceased in a local residence.
BC RCMP Major Crime has assumed conduct of the investigation and is working to determine the full circumstances surrounding this tragic incident. There has been speculation within the community regarding the relationship between the shooter and some of the victims. All of that remains part of the active investigation, and the RCMP said they are not in a position to publicly confirm any specifics at this time.
Additional resources have been deployed to Tumbler Ridge to support both the investigation and day-to-day policing operations are continuing with the assistance of neighbouring detachments.
BC Emergency Health Services, the Tumbler Ridge Fire Department, the local medical centre, the school district, the community centre, and many others within the community have provided significant support throughout this response.
Anyone in the community who does need support is asked to go to the Tumbler Ridge Community Centre at 340 Front Street.
Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, BC RCMP Commanding Officer, said: “I believe everyone can appreciate that the families are navigating profound loss and trauma. All efforts are focused on determining the appropriate next steps, including decisions around if, when, and how names or photos may be released. The families are fully engaged in these discussions, and we are working with them to provide an update as soon as possible.”
He noted: “We understand the community has questions and wants to understand the motive behind this tragic incident. We do believe the suspect acted alone and there are currently no other outstanding suspects. Our investigators remain on scene, actively gathering information to determine the full circumstances of what transpired.”
He added: “This is a deeply distressing incident, where people have senselessly lost their lives. Our thoughts are with the families, loved ones, first responders, the greater Tumbler Ridge community, and all those impacted by this tragic incident.”
