Canada Mourns After Deadly Tumbler Ridge School Shooting
The small mountain town of Tumbler Ridge in British Columbia is reeling from a tragedy that has shocked all of Canada. At least eight people, including a teacher and several young students, are confirmed dead after a school shooting carried out by an 18-year-old woman, Jesse Van Rootselaar. The shooter, who had a history of mental health issues, died by suicide at the scene. Authorities have confirmed she acted alone.
The violence began at the family home, where Van Rootselaar first took the lives of her mother and stepbrother. A young relative managed to escape and alert neighbors and soon after, she proceeded to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, a small institution serving just 175 students from grades seven through twelve. Police arrived at the school within minutes and found six victims inside, while others were seriously injured and rushed to nearby hospitals.
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Tumbler Ridge is a tight-knit community of just under 2,700 residents and the scale of this tragedy is overwhelming. Canadian authorities say school shootings remain rare, but when they do occur, they leave a deep scar. This incident is now among the deadliest in Canadian history, recalling past attacks like the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal, where 14 female students were killed.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and British Columbia Premier David Eby have both spoken to the nation, offering condolences and support. Flags on all government buildings will fly at half-mast for seven days and a day of mourning has been declared in the province. The national response underscores the gravity of the event and the need for communities to come together in the face of such unimaginable loss.
Authorities are still investigating Van Rootselaar’s motives. Police confirmed that she had been known to them previously, with past calls to her home related to mental health concerns and firearms that had been lawfully seized. Despite Canada’s strict gun regulations, the tools of violence in this case were able to reach her, a reality now prompting renewed questions about prevention and early intervention.
The impact of this tragedy will resonate far beyond Tumbler Ridge. Families, neighbors and the wider Canadian public are left to grapple with grief, shock and the haunting question of why such violence occurred. It is a sobering reminder that no community is immune and it highlights the ongoing importance of mental health support, school safety measures and community vigilance.
As Tumbler Ridge begins the slow process of healing, the world watches with empathy and concern. Stay with us for continuing coverage, as investigators release new information and communities across Canada seek answers and comfort in the wake of this devastating event.
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