Tumbler Ridge Reels After Deadly School Shooting
A shooter killed roughly eight to nine people and wounded about 25 at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in a town of about 2,400 people, prompting national support and ongoing investigations.
Overview
A shooter opened fire at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, killing roughly eight to nine people and wounding about 25, police said.
The attack in a town of about 2,400 to less than 2,500 people shattered a community where the school has about 160 students, officials said.
Prime Minister Mark Carney traveled to the town, and officials said neighbouring communities and volunteers have sent counsellors, therapy animals, food and other aid to support residents.
Police released identities including 12-year-olds Zoey Benoit and Kylie Smith among the dead, and said the suspect's mother and step-brother were found shot at a residence.
Investigators said the suspect, Jesse Van Rootselaar, was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot at the school, and police said they had earlier responded to mental-health calls.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the shooting as a rupture of Canadian innocence by stressing contrast with U.S. events and using evocative words like 'horrific' and 'vanished.' Editorial choices highlight law-enforcement terminology (e.g., 'gunperson' and gender references), prioritize local community impact, and foreground official statements rather than systemic policy debate.
Sources (3)
FAQ
Eight victims were killed: six at the school (education assistant Shannda Aviugana-Durand, three 12-year-old female students including Zoey Benoit and Kylie Smith, and two male students aged 12 and 13), plus the suspect's mother Jennifer Strang and 11-year-old half-brother at home. Two survivors, Maya and Paige, remain hospitalized.
The suspect was 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, who first shot his mother Jennifer Strang and 11-year-old half-brother at home using an unregistered shotgun, then went to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School where he killed six people before dying by self-inflicted gunshot after police arrived.
At home, an unregistered shotgun was used. At the school, a long gun and a modified rifle (initially misreported as handgun) were seized; the main firearm used in the school shooting and the shotgun had never been seized by police, with origins unknown. The suspect's mother had a valid firearms license but no registered firearms.
Forensic processing continues at the school through the weekend, with autopsies expected complete by end of weekend. Over 80 interviews conducted; analyzing suspect's online activity, digital footprint, prior police interactions, CCTV, body cams, and witness evidence. No motive identified yet; shooter acted alone, not targeting specific victims.
RCMP arrived within two minutes; no further injuries after encountering suspect. School locked down, Alert Ready issued. Community support includes Prime Minister visit, counsellors, therapy animals, food aid; schools closed for the week.
History
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