Police have identified 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar as the suspect in the tragic mass shooting that resulted in the deaths of eight individuals and multiple injuries in the small community of Tumbler Ridge in British Columbia.
The BC RCMP responded to reports of an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School on Tuesday afternoon. Upon arrival, they encountered gunfire and quickly located the shooter, who was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Two firearms, including a long gun and a modified handgun, were recovered at the scene.
Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald stated that the shooter, Van Rootselaar, was a resident of Tumbler Ridge. The incident claimed the lives of nine individuals, including an adult female educator, three female students, and two male students aged between 13 and 17.
In addition to the school victims, two more individuals were found dead in a nearby home. Police have confirmed that the investigation is ongoing, with a focus on determining the origin of the firearms used in the shooting.
The community was deeply affected by this tragedy, with over 100 students and faculty evacuated to a local community center for safety. Those injured were taken to a medical clinic for assessment, while two individuals with severe injuries were airlifted to a hospital.