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2026 Tumbler Ridge shooting

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2026 Tumbler Ridge shootings
Map
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640m
698yds
Tumbler Ridge Secondary School
Perpetrator's home
File:Canada British Columbia location map.svg
Location55°07′57″N 121°00′06″W / 55.1326°N 121.0018°W / 55.1326; -121.0018 (Fellers Avenue)
55°07′26″N 121°00′06″W / 55.1238°N 121.0016°W / 55.1238; -121.0016 (Tumbler Ridge Secondary School)
Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada
DateFebruary 10, 2026 (2026-02-10)
c. 2:20 p.m. MST (UTC−07:00)
Attack type
Weapons
Deaths9 (2 at the perpetrator's home; 7 at the school, including the perpetrator)
Injured27
PerpetratorJesse Van Rootselaar
MotiveUnder investigation

On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, a mass shooting occurred in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada. Eighteen-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar killed two relatives at a residence before killing five students and an education assistant at the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Van Rootselaar, a former student at the school, died from a "self-inflicted injury" at the school. Twenty-seven others were injured.

The incident was the deadliest mass shooting in Canada since the Nova Scotia attacks in 2020,[1] and the deadliest school shooting in Canada since the École Polytechnique massacre in 1989.[2] The incident is the highest casualty mass shooting event in Canadian history, with 36 total casualties (including the perpetrator).[3]

Background

Tumbler Ridge is a small mining town with a population of 2,399, according to the 2021 census.[4] Tumbler Ridge Secondary School is a public secondary school operated by School District 59 Peace River South and the designated secondary school for the town's primary school. For the 2025–26 school year, the school had 191 students from grades 7 to 12.[5]

Gun control legislation in Canada was greatly reinforced with the passage of the Firearms Act in 1995, following the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal.[6][7] After the 2020 Nova Scotia attacks, such restrictions were further strengthened, with the sale, transport, importation or use of certain models of "assault-style" firearms banned via an Order in Council, with the deadline for firearm disposal set at October 30, 2026.[8][9][10] The Canadian Firearms Program of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is tasked with enforcing the act.[11]

Attacks

Domestic shooting

An initial attack at a residence on Fellers Avenue resulted in the deaths of the attacker's mother and stepbrother.[12][13] The police had already been called to the school when they were alerted of this attack by a family member.[14]

School shooting

Van Rootselaar then went to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School with a modified handgun and a long gun[15] and opened fire, first killing a victim in a stairwell. She then killed five others in the school's library before committing suicide.[15] At approximately 2:20 p.m. MST,[16] RCMP received a report of an active shooter at the school, which is approximately 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) from the private residence. An alarm in the school instructed students to close the doors for a lockdown. Students then barricaded the doors with tables.[17][18] An Alert Ready emergency alert was released in the region by the RCMP at around 3:15 p.m. MST, asking residents to shelter in place due to the active shooter situation. Other schools in the area were also placed on lockdown. The police emergency alert was cancelled at 6:45 p.m MST.[19][20] Premier of British Columbia David Eby said the police had reached the school within two minutes.[21][clarification needed]

Later on the same day, School District 59 announced that both schools in Tumbler Ridge would remain closed for the rest of the week.[22]

Victims

Six people were found dead inside the school; a seventh was mistakenly reported as deceased en route to the hospital, but survived.[23] The dead at the school were identified as a 39-year-old female education assistant, three female students all aged 12, and two male students aged 12 and 13.[24][25][26] Two people were found dead at a residence in Tumbler Ridge.[27] RCMP confirmed that they were the perpetrator's mother and stepbrother, aged 39 and 11 respectively,[28][29] and that they had been shot before the perpetrator attacked the school.[30]

Twenty-seven other people were treated for injuries, including two with serious injuries.[27][31] A Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service aircraft was dispatched from Grande Prairie, Alberta. In a press conference, the British Columbia RCMP confirmed that two injured people were airlifted out of Tumbler Ridge.[32][33][34] One was a 19-year-old woman,[35] while another, a 12-year-old girl, was airlifted to British Columbia Children's Hospital in Vancouver.[36][37][38]

Perpetrator

Jesse Van Rootselaar (August 4, 2007 – February 10, 2026) was identified as the shooter by RCMP deputy commissioner Dwayne McDonald,[28][18] after initially being described by the RCMP as "a female in a dress with brown hair".[39][40] McDonald stated that Van Rootselaar was a trans woman.[18][41] Van Rootselaar had dropped out of school about four years prior;[42] McDonald disclosed that there was no information that suggested she was bullied at school.[43][44] Jesse Van Rootselaar and her siblings had been the subject of custody disputes between their parents, and moved between Newfoundland and Labrador and Western Canada multiple times between 2010 and 2015.[45] Van Rootselaar was estranged from her father, who said that Jesse never used the Van Rootselaar name.[46]

Van Rootselaar's YouTube profile picture featured a female anime character and rifle set against a pink-and-white-striped background.[47] Her TikTok account, which used the same profile image as the YouTube account, featured multiple reposted videos of a transgender mass shooter who killed six people at a Christian school in Nashville in 2023.[47] In a social media post c. 2022, Van Rootselaar's mother "promoted the teenager's YouTube channel ... noting that her child 'posts about hunting, self-reliance, guns.'"[47]

Van Rootselaar additionally described trying to "burn [her] house down after using psychedelic mushrooms, and regularly took DMT – another powerful hallucinogenic drug."[48] After using psychedelic mushrooms in October 2023, she wrote: "I had a complete break from reality and did a lot of irrational things, I felt like I was dreaming. Many consequences ensued."[48] According to The London Times, she claimed in 2023 to be treating ADHD and OCD with antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs.[49]

Van Rootselaar and her family were known to authorities; the police had last visited the home in spring 2025 regarding mental health issues.[23] Van Rootselaar had previously held a valid minor's firearms licence,[50] which allows for borrowing a non-restricted firearm; it had expired in 2024. She was not the owner of any firearms because acquiring and possessing firearms is not allowed with a minor's licence.[51][52] She had a history of poor mental health and police had responded several times previously for mental health-related calls.[28] RCMP confirmed that in a previous police visit in the past two years, "firearms were seized under the Criminal Code", but that "the lawful owner of those firearms petitioned for them to be returned, and they were."[53]

Investigation

Premier David Eby and Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Nina Krieger at a press conference the day of the shooting

RCMP superintendent Ken Floyd stated at a press conference the day of the shooting that they were investigating how the shooter was connected to the victims.[21] McDonald said in a February 11 press conference that police believed that Van Rootselaar had acted alone, and that they had not found a note or other communication from the shooter.[44] Police recovered a long gun and a modified handgun from the school.[43]

Reactions

Several Canadian politicians released statements offering their condolences to those affected by the shootings, including prime minister Mark Carney,[54] BC premier David Eby,[55] Prince George—Peace River—Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer,[56] and Peace River South MLA Larry Neufeld.[57] Carney cancelled his imminent trip to the 62nd Munich Security Conference in Europe,[58] and announced that flags would be flown at half-mast on federal buildings and Parliament Hill for seven days.[59] King Charles III of Canada[60] and the Canadian Olympic Committee also expressed their condolences. At the time of the shooting, the Canadian team was competing in the 2026 Winter Olympics.[61] Immediately following the shootings, BC Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General Nina Krieger declared that her office would "deploy every resource" to support the investigation.[62]

After the shooting, Tumbler Ridge councillor Chris Norbury described Tumbler Ridge as "an incredibly safe community", stating that "we don't have to worry about crime here".[63] Tumbler Ridge mayor Darryl Krakowka said, "I will know every victim. I've been here 19 years, and we're a small community".[64] On February 12, two days after the shootings, the Prime Minister's Office stated that Carney intended to visit Tumbler Ridge in the coming days, and that an appropriate schedule was being arranged with local officials.[65] Carney extended invitations to Opposition leaders to travel with him to the community on February 13. Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet, and interim NDP leader Don Davies confirmed that they would travel with the prime minister to attend.[66] Both before and after the perpetrator was revealed to be transgender, unsubstantiated claims involving misinformation about violence by transgender people were shared online.[67][68]

See also

References

  1. ^ Morris, Jim; Gilles, Rob (February 11, 2026). "Canada in shock after one of the country's worst mass shootings". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  2. ^ Hall, Richard (February 11, 2026). "Canada Reels From Deadliest School Shooting in Decades". Time. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  3. ^ "Tumbler Ridge: How one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canadian history unfolded". CBC News. February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  4. ^ Neumann, Sean (February 11, 2026). "Barricaded Students Were 'Trying to Keep Each Other Motivated' During Canada School Shooting: Student". www.aol.com. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  5. ^ "Tumbler Ridge Secondary, Contextual Information". Government of British Columbia. 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  6. ^ Pavlou, Devin (February 11, 2026). "Canada tightened gun laws after tragedy. The results are mixed". Straight Arrow News. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  7. ^ Rathjen, Heidi; Montpetit, Charles (1999). December 6: From the Montreal Massacre to Gun Control. Toronto: McClelland & Stewart. ISBN 0-7710-6125-0.
  8. ^ Isai, Vjosa (February 11, 2026). "Canada Launched Major Gun Reforms in 2020 After Its Deadliest Mass Shooting". The New York Times. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  9. ^ Ballingall, Alex (June 26, 2020). "Ottawa will let gun owners keep 'military-style' firearms despite nationwide ban". thestar.com. Archived from the original on May 1, 2020. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  10. ^ Bronskill, Jim (February 11, 2026). "Mass shootings have prompted Canadian gun laws to change over the decades". globalnews.ca. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  11. ^ "Firearms". Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Archived from the original on February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  12. ^ Morris, Jim; Gillies, Rob (February 11, 2026). "Shooter in Canada kills 9 people and injures 25 others at a school and home". AP News. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  13. ^ "LIVE: Teacher, five students among those killed, Shooter identified, Tumbler Ridge shooting victim 'fighting for her life'". Vancouver Sun. February 11, 2026. Archived from the original on February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  14. ^ "Police name suspect and release details after Tumbler Ridge shootings". BBC News. February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  15. ^ Jump up to: a b "Tumbler Ridge school shooting: police identify suspect in Canada attack as 18-year-old local resident – as it happened". The Guardian.
  16. ^ "Update: Tumbler Ridge fatal shootings". Royal Canadian Mounted Police. February 11, 2026. Archived from the original on February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  17. ^ "Grade 12 student recalls 'surreal' lockdown during deadly school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C." CBC News. February 10, 2026. Archived from the original on February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Canada shooting latest: Nine killed and 25 injured in shootings at school and home in Tumbler Ridge". BBC News. February 11, 2026. Archived from the original on February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  19. ^ "Update: Police Emergency Alert incident in Tumbler Ridge cancelled". Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. February 10, 2026. Archived from the original on February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  20. ^ "Lockdown and Secure and Hold at TRSS & TRE - February 10, 2026". School District 59. February 10, 2026. Archived from the original on February 10, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  21. ^ Jump up to: a b Morris, Jim; Gillies, Rob (February 11, 2026). "Shootings at school and home in Canada leave 10 dead, including suspect". www.uppermichiganssource.com. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  22. ^ "TUMBLER RIDGE SECONDARY AND TUMBLER RIDGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WILL BE CLOSED". School District 59. February 10, 2026. Archived from the original on February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  23. ^ Jump up to: a b Stevis-Gridneff, Matina; Isai, Vjosa; Baskar, Pranav (February 11, 2026). "Canada Updates: Police Identify Suspect in Mass Shooting". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  24. ^ "More details issued about the victims". BBC News. February 11, 2026. Archived from the original on February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  25. ^ "Family of girl, 12, remembers 'beautiful, kind, innocent soul' killed in Tumbler Ridge mass shooting". National Post. February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  26. ^ Kirkey, Sharon (February 11, 2026). "Tumbler Ridge shooting victim, 12, 'loved being at school' before he was 'murdered in cold blood,' father says". National Post. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  27. ^ Jump up to: a b Judd, Amy (February 10, 2026). "Tumbler Ridge B.C. School Shooting: 10 Dead Including Shooter, 27 Injured". Global News. Archived from the original on February 10, 2026. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  28. ^ Jump up to: a b c Vanderdeen, Lauren (February 11, 2026). "Mounties have identified the suspect". CBC News. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  29. ^ "Two people found dead at local residence related to suspect". BBC News. February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  30. ^ "Incident at the residence occurred first, says officer". BBC News. February 10, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  31. ^ Brown, Rob (February 10, 2026). "Ten Dead, 25 Injured in Tumbler Ridge Mass School Shooting". Grande Prairie Daily Herald-Tribune. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  32. ^ "10 dead, including female suspect, in shootings at B.C. school and home". Calgary Journal. February 10, 2026. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  33. ^ "10 dead, including suspect, after active shooter incident in Tumbler Ridge, B.C." CBC News. February 10, 2026. Archived from the original on February 10, 2026. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  34. ^ "At least 10 confirmed dead, including suspect in Tumbler Ridge shooting, police say". CityNews Kitchener. February 10, 2026. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  35. ^ Jayme Poisson; Caroline Barghout (February 12, 2026). "Tragedy in Tumbler Ridge" (Podcast). CBC. We also know that two female victims were airlifted to hospital, right? A 12-year-old and a 19-year-old who both remain in serious condition and then most of the other people injured were released quite soon after they were brought to hospital.
  36. ^ Brockman, Charles (February 11, 2026). "Tumbler Ridge: Surviving victim's family speaks out". CityNews Vancouver. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  37. ^ Lambie, Chris (February 11, 2026). "Tumbler Ridge school shooting leaves 12-year-old girl 'fighting for her life' in B.C." The National Post. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  38. ^ Judd, Amy (February 11, 2026). "B.C. school shooting victim tried to lock library door to save her classmates | Globalnews.ca". Global News. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  39. ^ "10 dead, including suspect, after school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C.: RCMP". CTV News. February 10, 2026. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  40. ^ "Multiple victims after shooting at high school in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., RCMP say". The Globe and Mail. February 10, 2026. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  41. ^ Ensor, Josie (February 11, 2026). "Who was Jesse Van Rootselaar? Transgender Canada school shooter". The Times. Archived from the original on February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  42. ^ Vanderdeen, Lauren (February 11, 2026). "RCMP identify perpetrator in B.C. mass shooting that left 9 dead, 27 injured". CBC News.
  43. ^ Jump up to: a b "Canada shooting latest: Police name suspect in Canada school shooting as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar". BBC News. February 11, 2026. Archived from the original on February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  44. ^ Jump up to: a b Saltman, Max (February 11, 2026). "Police say they do not know the motive behind the shooting". CNN. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  45. ^ "Court ruling describes 'nomadic lifestyle' of Tumbler Ridge, B.C., shooter's family". The Canadian Press. February 12, 2026.
  46. ^ Proctor, Jason (February 12, 2026). "Biological father of Tumbler Ridge shooter offers 'heartfelt condolences'". CBC News. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  47. ^ Jump up to: a b c "What we know about Tumbler Ridge mass shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar". Vancouver Sun. February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 12, 2026. A TikTok account using the same profile image, under the username 'jessestrangg,' reposted multiple videos of 28-year-old Audrey Hale, who in March 2023 shot and killed six people after opening fire on a Christian school in Nashville.
  48. ^ Jump up to: a b Max Stephens; Iona Cleave (February 12, 2026). "Revealed: 6ft trans school shooter wanted to be 'petite'". The Daily Telegraph.
  49. ^ "What we have learned about the warning signs of Tumbler Ridge mass shooter". National Post. February 12, 2026. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  50. ^ Nath, Sanstuti (February 12, 2026). "Canada School Killer, 18-Year-Old Trans Woman, First Shot Mother, Step-Brother At Home". NDTV. Retrieved February 12, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  51. ^ "Minor's Licence". Canadian Firearms Program. Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Archived from the original on August 9, 2025. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  52. ^ "Suspect 'did not have any firearms registered', says deputy commissioner". BBC News. February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  53. ^ "Police attended suspect's family home multiple times". BBC News. February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  54. ^ Jussinoja, Kaija (February 11, 2026). "10 dead, including suspect, after mass shooting at northern B.C. high school". CTV News. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  55. ^ Kulkarni, Akshay (February 11, 2026). "'This is the kind of thing that feels like it happens in other places,' premier says". CBC. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  56. ^ @bobzimmermp (February 10, 2026). "Words can't express the tragedy that has unfolded today in Tumbler Ridge. Full details are still forthcoming and we will know more in the days to come. My sincere thoughts and prayers go out for the victims still in hospital and for those Tumbler Ridge families who have lost loved ones today. We mourn with you ❤️" (Tweet). Retrieved February 11, 2026 – via Twitter.
  57. ^ Neufeld, Larry. "Standing with Tumbler Ridge in grief, strength, and solidarity". Facebook. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  58. ^ Morrison, Catherine. "Carney cancels trip to Europe following B.C. school shooting". Castanet. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  59. ^ Tasker, John Paul (February 11, 2026). "An emotional Carney says 'the nation mourns,' orders flags at half-mast after B.C. shooting". CBC News. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  60. ^ Cunningham, Anna (February 11, 2026). "Royal Family among world leaders sending condolences after Tumbler Ridge mass shooting". CBC News. Retrieved February 11, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  61. ^ "Team Canada Statement regarding Tumbler Ridge". Team Canada. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  62. ^ "Tumbler Ridge school shooting: nine dead after 'devastating' attack; Canada police say shooter found deceased – latest updates". The Guardian. February 10, 2026. Retrieved February 10, 2026.
  63. ^ "'We all know the victims,' says local town councillor". BBC News. February 11, 2026. Archived from the original on February 11, 2026. Retrieved February 11, 2026.
  64. ^ Robert Greenalland; Gabriela Pomeroy (February 11, 2026). "'It was terrifying': Tumbler Ridge's tight-knit community in shock after shooting". BBC.
  65. ^ "Tumbler Ridge live updates: Carney to visit community in mourning". CTVNews. February 12, 2026. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  66. ^ Crête, Mylène (February 12, 2026). "Tuerie en Colombie-Britannique: Mark Carney se rendra à Tumbler Ridge vendredi". La Presse (in Canadian French). Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  67. ^ Maimann, Kevin (February 11, 2026). "After Tumbler Ridge shooting, false claims about trans people have proliferated online". CBC News. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
  68. ^ Boyd, Alex (February 11, 2026). "Inflammatory claims about Tumbler Ridge shooter identity surge as elected official claims 'trans violence'". Toronto Star. Retrieved February 12, 2026.
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