Canadian authorities have identified the suspect in Tuesday’s mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar. Police confirmed the suspect died by suicide after carrying out one of the deadliest mass killings in Canadian history.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police revised the death toll to nine, including the shooter, down from the initially reported 10.
Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald said the suspect had a history of mental health interventions and had previously been apprehended under the provincial Mental Health Act. Police had responded multiple times to the family residence over concerns related to mental health.
Investigators said the suspect first killed her 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother at home before going to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. There, a 39-year-old female teacher, three 12-year-old girls, and two boys aged 12 and 13 were shot and killed. Two severely injured victims remain hospitalized.
Police recovered a long gun and a modified handgun. Authorities stated the suspect acted alone and said it is too early to determine a motive. There is no indication that specific individuals were targeted.
Officers revealed that firearms had been seized from the family residence two years ago but were later returned after a successful appeal. The suspect previously held a firearms license that expired in 2024.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, visibly emotional, postponed a planned trip to Europe and ordered flags on federal buildings to be flown at half-mast for seven days. In Parliament, lawmakers observed a moment of silence.
King Charles III, Canada’s head of state, expressed that he was “profoundly shocked and saddened” by the tragedy.
School shootings are rare in Canada, which maintains stricter gun laws than the United States. The attack ranks among the most serious mass shootings in the country’s history.
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