Tumbler Ridge, Canada, school shooting details in British Columbia have revealed one of the deadliest attacks in Canadian history, where an 18-year-old gunman killed family members at a home before opening fire at her former school and then taking her own life in a tragic, senseless act that has devastated the small community. This mass shooting left nine people dead, including students and a teacher, and injured dozens, leading to national mourning and urgent questions about public safety, mental health, and firearm access in Canada. Authorities and residents are still processing the horror of this violence and its lasting impact.
What Happened in Tumbler Ridge
In the early afternoon of February 10, 2026, at approximately 1:20 p.m. local time, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) received reports of an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in the remote British Columbia town of Tumbler Ridge, Canada. The incident began at a private residence where the suspect, identified by police as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, fatally shot her mother and 11-year-old stepbrother before driving to the school she once attended.
Once at the school, Van Rootselaar entered armed with a long gun and a modified handgun. Within minutes, officers arrived on the scene, entering the building as gunfire was still ongoing. According to RCMP and official updates, six victims – including a 39-year-old teacher and five students between 12 and 13 years old – were found dead inside the school. Two additional victims were discovered deceased at the nearby residence, bringing the confirmed death toll to nine. Van Rootselaar was found dead at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot.
Despite its rare occurrence in Canada, this shooting quickly became one of the nation’s most deadly, drawing comparisons to past tragedies such as the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre and the 2020 Nova Scotia attacks.
Who Were the Victims and Injured
Authorities confirmed the identities of several victims at the school, including both students and educational staff. Among the dead were students as young as 12, alongside teachers who had dedicated their lives to serving the community. At least 27 people were injured, with many suffering non-fatal injuries ranging from gunshot wounds to trauma sustained while escaping. Two of the injured were airlifted to hospitals, including a 12-year-old girl reported as fighting for her life with severe head and neck injuries.
The broader Tumbler Ridge community, which has a population of nearly 2,700 residents, has been left reeling from the loss. Friends, families, and schoolmates are grappling with both grief and disbelief, highlighting the long road ahead for healing.
Who Was the Shooter
Police publicly identified the shooter as Jesse Van Rootselaar, an 18-year-old former student of the same school she attacked. Van Rootselaar had dropped out about four years before the incident and had a history of interactions with law enforcement related to mental health. Authorities revealed that the RCMP had been called to her home numerous times in previous years for well-being checks and intrusive behavior.
Van Rootselaar was described in a police press briefing as having been assigned female at birth and later identifying as transgender, though officials noted no clear evidence that gender identity played any role in motivating the attack. Police also reported that her firearms license had expired in 2024, and there were no registered weapons in her name at the time of the shooting.
The motive behind the killings remains under investigation, and authorities have not released a definitive explanation for why this act of violence unfolded.
Immediate Response and Police Action
Upon receiving the alert of an active shooter, RCMP officers and local police units responded swiftly. Police issued a Police Initiated Public Alert (PIPA) through local systems, warning residents to remain indoors and lock doors while officers secured the area. The alert was later canceled after investigators confirmed that there was no continued threat to the public.
Students and staff inside the school were instructed to lock down immediately, barricading doors with furniture and seeking shelter until authorities made the area safe. Within approximately two minutes of the call, police arrived on the scene — a response time praised by officials, though it could not prevent the tragic loss of life.
Government and Community Reaction
Canadian leaders expressed sorrow and support for the victims’ families and the Tumbler Ridge community. Prime Minister Mark Carney postponed official engagements and ordered national flags to fly at half-mast, describing the event as “devastating” for the entire country. Provincial officials have also been deployed to assist with ongoing response efforts.
Vigils, memorials, and crisis counselling services have been organized to help residents and survivors cope with trauma and shock. The tragedy has generated widespread discussion about national safety measures, mental health support systems, and firearm regulation enforcement.
Why This Matters Now
Canada’s strict gun control policies have historically kept school shootings rare compared to other nations. However, this devastating attack reveals lingering vulnerabilities and the challenges communities face in preventing tragically unpredictable violence. The incident underscores pressing national conversations about mental health accessibility, early intervention programs, and community-based support networks designed to identify and assist individuals at risk before reaching a crisis point.
As investigations continue and the community begins a long path toward healing, the broader implications for Canadian public safety remain at the forefront of national dialogue. Stories like these are critical for informing policy, strengthening support systems, and fostering environments where such tragedies are less likely to occur.
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