Who Is Jesse Van Rootselaar? Suspect in Canada School Shooting Identified

 

 

The suspect in two shootings at a high school and a home in British Columbia’s quiet community of Tumbler Ridge on Tuesday has been identified as 18-year-old transgender woman Jesse Van Rootselaar.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald told reporters at a press conference Wednesday that Van Rootselaar, of Tumbler Ridge, was a “biological male who approximately six years ago began to transition to female.” A motive in Canada’s deadliest rampage since 2020 remain unclear, he said.

Flowers are left outside of Tumbler Ridge secondary school building where a shooting took place, leaving at least nine people dead in the small town o…

What Happened In Tumbler Ridge?

Officers responded to reports of gunfire at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School at about 1:20 p.m. local time Tuesday. Inside the building, police found six people dead. A seventh victim died while being transported to a hospital.

Authorities later discovered two additional bodies at a nearby residence. Police said the violence at the home occurred before the shooting at the school. The victims at the residence were related to the suspect.

Investigators said Tuesday that nine victims in addition to the suspect had been killed, but corrected the death toll on Wednesday, saying 9 people died, including Van Rootselaar.

Police began putting tape out near the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and surrounding buildings in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. on February 11, 2026. 

“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,” RCMP officials said in a statement. “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.”

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The victims who were found deceased inside the school include a 39-year-old female teacher, three 12-year-old female students and two male students. Two other victims, Van Rootselaar’s 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother, were found dead at a nearby residence.

McDonald said there’s no evidence that specific people at the school were targeted and authorities believe Van Rootselaar acted alone.

“There are currently no outstanding suspects,” McDonald said Wednesday.

This screengrab from a video shows students exiting Tumbler Ridge Secondary School after a shooting in British Columbia on February 10, 2026. | Jordon Kosik via AP

What to Know About Jesse Van Rootselaar

Police identified the suspect as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, who identified as female. McDonald said Van Rootselaar was born as a male and began transitioning about six years ago.

The suspect was found dead inside the school from what police described as a self-inflicted injury.

Tumbler RIdge Secondary School is shown in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. on February 11, 2026. (Jesse Boily/The Canadian Press via AP)

McDonald cited a history of police responses to the suspect’s family home, including calls related to mental health concerns. The suspect had previously been apprehended under the Mental Health Act for assessment and follow-up.

About two years ago, officers seized firearms from the residence under the Criminal Code. The lawful owner later petitioned to have the weapons returned. Authorities said Van Rootselaar had an expired firearms license in 2024 and had no guns registered in her name.

Investigators have not yet determined a motive in the shootings and are continuing to examine the Van Rootselaar’s background and prior interactions with law enforcement, McDonald said.