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A road remains closed following one of the deadliest mass shootings in recent Canadian history, resulting in multiple fatalities in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, on February 11, 2026.
– Nine individuals lost their lives in a remote community in British Columbia.
– Police report the suspect murdered family members prior to the school attack.
– The Prime Minister has ordered flags to fly at half-staff nationwide.
Canadian authorities have identified the shooter responsible for a devastating school shooting as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, a young woman with a history of mental health struggles. The incident, which occurred in Tumbler Ridge—a secluded town in British Columbia—claims nine lives before the gunman took her own life. Initially, ten deaths were reported, but the number was later revised to nine.
Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald of the RCMP explained that police had been called to the suspect’s family home multiple times over previous years due to mental health concerns. Van Rootselaar, who was assigned male at birth but began identifying as female six years ago, first killed her mother, aged 39, and her 11-year-old stepbrother at their residence.
She then proceeded to the local school, where she shot and injured a 39-year-old female teacher, three female students aged 12, and two male students aged 12 and 13.
Authorities emphasize that the investigation points to a single perpetrator, and it remains too early to speculate on her motives.
Earlier, Prime Minister Mark Carney, visibly emotional, assured the nation that Canadians would get through this tragic event. Having postponed a European trip, he ordered all government flags to be lowered to half-mast for a week.
“We will get through this and learn from it,” Carney stated, nearly tearful, speaking to reporters. “Now is a time for us to unite—support each other, mourn together, and grow stronger together.”
World leaders extended sympathies, with King Charles expressing his profound shock and sorrow over the losses.
This shooting ranks among the deadliest in Canadian history. Although Canada has stricter gun control measures than the U.S., law-abiding citizens can still own firearms with proper licensing. Past incidents include the 2020 Nova Scotia rampage, where a man disguised as police killed 22 people during a 13-hour spree before being shot by police. Canada’s worst school shooting occurred in December 1989 at Montreal’s École Polytechnique, where a gunman murdered 14 female students and wounded 13 others before committing suicide.
Local legislator Larry Neufeld described the devastation: “There are no words strong enough to express what this community has endured. It will take significant effort and courage to rebuild from this horror,” he told CBC News.
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