BC RCMP said the suspect in a mass shooting in B.C.’s Peace Region, is believed to have acted alone.
Eight people were killed in a school shooting on Tuesday afternoon in Tumbler Ridge, in which the suspected shooter also ended up dead, bringing the total to nine.
It was originally reported on Tuesday that 10 people, including the shooter, had died, but that number was corrected to nine, including the shooter, on Wednesday.
Dept. Comm. Dwayne McDonald, BC RCMP commanding officer, said when officers arrived at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School on Tuesday afternoon, following reports of an active shooter, gunshots were fired in their direction.
“Upon arrival, there was active gunfire and as officers approached the school, rounds were fired in their direction,” he said.
“Officers entered the school to locate the threat. Within minutes, an individual confirmed to be the shooter was located deceased with what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
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The deceased victims from the school include a 39-year-old adult female educator, three female students, all aged 12, and two male students, ages 12 and 13.
BC RCMP have identified the shooter as 18-year-old female Jesse Van Rootsleaar, who is a resident of Tumbler Ridge.
“We do believe the suspect acted alone,” McDonald confirmed.
He said they do have a history of police calls to the family residence involving Van Rootsleaar, including some mental health calls.
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McDonald said a long gun and a modified handgun were recovered at the scene by the officers.
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Two people were found dead in the home and McDonald confirmed that the female adult victim is Van Rootsleaar’s mother, 39, and the youth is her 11-year-old brother or stepbrother.
McDonald did provide some information about the suspect.
“We identified the suspect as they chose to be identified in public and in social media,” he said.
“I can say that Jesse was born as a biological male, who, approximately, the information that I have, approximately six years ago, began to transition to female and identified as female both socially and publicly.”
McDonald also said that Van Rootsleaar had some interactions with the police.
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“Police have attended that residence in the past, approximately a couple of years ago, where firearms were seized under the criminal code,” he added.
“I can say that at a later point in time, the lawful owner of those firearms petitioned for those firearms to be returned and they were.”
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RCMP initially said there were “multiple victims” from a shooting at the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where students attend Grades 7 through 12.
BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver confirmed in a statement that staff are caring for one patient who was transported from Tumbler Ridge in critical condition.
A team from the hospital will also be travelling to Tumbler Ridge to provide youth mental health supports for the community, the hospital confirmed.
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RCMP in Tumbler Ridge issued an emergency alert on Tuesday afternoon for an active shooter following reports of a shooting at a school.
When officers entered the school on Tuesday afternoon, they found six victims dead, RCMP confirmed. Two more victims were found at another location.
Two other injured people have been airlifted to hospital with serious or life‑threatening injuries.
Approximately 25 others were assessed and triaged at the local medical centre for non‑life‑threatening injuries.
“Once it was determined to be safe, officers evacuated over 100 students and faculty to a local community center and the police continued to assess whether any ongoing threats remained,” McDonald said.
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