Tumbler Ridge, the small community of around 2,400 people in northeastern B.C., is mourning significant losses after a mass shooting on Tuesday that claimed the lives of nine people, including the shooter, and left 25 others injured.
According to RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, the deceased victims included one adult educator and five students between the ages of 12 and 13. Two additional victims were then found in a local residence, believed to be the mother and the 11-year-old step-brother of the suspected perpetrator.
It was initially reported that the tragedy had a death toll of 10, but police have since clarified that one victim was airlifted to a hospital and wrongly presumed dead. Word has since come out that, though they remain in critical condition, the victim is fortunately still alive.
Police have identified the shooter as an 18-year-old female, Jesse Van Rootselaar. According to McDonald, police had visited Van Rootselaar’s residence “on multiple occasions over the past several years,” in response to mental health concerns. At some point, authorities had even apprehended her under the Mental Health Act and transported her to a hospital for assessment.
There has been significant public speculation surrounding the suspect’s identity as a trans woman, though authorities have said that they cannot yet confirm any correlation between this fact and the crime.
In response to questions about the shooter’s motive, McDonald assured the public that investigators remain on the scene gathering information to determine the circumstances of the event. For now, they believe Van Rootselaar to have been working alone.
“There are currently no other outstanding suspects,” McDonald said.
Authorities refuse to confirm any speculation of what the relationship between the suspect and the victims was, stating that it remains a part of their ongoing investigation. Though Van Rootselaar attended the same high school, she had dropped out four years prior.
The violent tragedy has been accompanied by an outpouring of grief in B.C. and beyond. Prime Minister Mark Carney offered his condolences, calling it a “very difficult day for the nation,” and announced that all flags on Parliament Hill and federal buildings across the country will be flown at half-mast for the next seven days.
Flags were also lowered on Wednesday morning here at TRU, according to President Airini. In the second of two letters sent by the university, Airini confirms that some members of the community have ties to Tumbler Ridge. She also reveals that an advisory community was convened to share expertise in education, social work, response planning, student services, and people and culture to best respond to the tragedy.
In Tumbler Ridge, a vigil was held on Wednesday evening in honour of the victims and their loved ones. It saw hundreds of attendees in the close-knit community come together to mourn the devastating loss.