In the quiet, mountainous town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia—a remote community of just over 2,000 residents nestled amid dense forests and rugged peaks—a routine Tuesday afternoon on February 10, 2026, turned into unimaginable horror. What began as a domestic tragedy escalated into one of the deadliest school shootings in Canadian history, claiming eight lives and injuring dozens more, leaving a tight-knit town forever scarred.
According to Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar first murdered her 39-year-old mother, Jannifer Strang, and her 11-year-old stepbrother at their family home. Van Rootselaar, who identified as female and had begun transitioning six years earlier (around age 12), then proceeded to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, a small institution serving about 175 students. There, in the library, the shooter opened fire, killing one female teacher and five students—three girls and two boys, aged 13 to 17—before turning the gun on herself in a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
At least 25 others were wounded, some critically, and rushed to hospitals as far away as Vancouver. One heartbreaking case involved 12-year-old Maya Gebala, shot in the neck and head; her mother, Cia Edmonds, shared a desperate plea: “Our baby needs a miracle… The damage to her brain was too much. We were warned she wouldn’t make the night.” The community, already reeling from the family killings, now grieves multiple young lives cut short.
Van Rootselaar had a documented history of mental health struggles. RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald revealed that police had responded to multiple mental health calls at the family residence over the years, including one instance where the teen was apprehended under the Mental Health Act for assessment. Firearms had been seized from the home a couple of years prior under the Criminal Code due to concerns, but were later returned to the lawful owner—the mother—after she petitioned for their release. Tragically, she did not hold a valid firearms license at the time of the incident.
The shooter had attended Tumbler Ridge Secondary School but dropped out around age 14, four years before the attack. Acquaintances described her as a “quiet kid” who often sat alone, withdrawn from peers. No clear motive has been publicly established, with investigations ongoing into what drove this former student to target the very school she once attended.
Witness accounts paint a terrifying picture of the lockdown that followed. Senior student Darian Quist, in a mechanics class during the chaos, recalled the initial confusion: “We thought it was just a routine ‘secure and hold,’ but then the reality hit.” Students barricaded doors, hid for over two hours, and shared disturbing cellphone photos of blood and carnage, amplifying the fear. When officers finally entered, they shouted “Hands up!” as traumatized kids emerged.
The small town of Tumbler Ridge—known for its stunning natural beauty, hiking trails, and tight community bonds—has been left shattered. Local resident Liam Irving, who knew the shooter’s mother and brother as “good friends,” said simply: “There’s not one person in this town right now that’s not affected.” Parents report children terrified to return to school, with hugs held tighter and normalcy feeling distant.
This tragedy ranks as Canada’s second-deadliest school shooting, reigniting national conversations on school safety protocols (which appeared to save lives through effective lockdowns and barricades), mental health support in rural areas, and firearm access amid prior police interventions. Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed the nation’s grief, calling for unity in mourning.
As investigations continue and families bury their loved ones, Tumbler Ridge—a place once defined by peaceful wilderness—now carries the weight of profound loss. The vault of this horror remains open, a stark reminder that even the most isolated corners of Canada are not immune to violence’s reach.
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