Tumbler Ridge Community Devastated by Historic Mass Shooting Tragedy
The world's attention has turned toward the quiet, tight-knit community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, following a mass shooting that has left the town reeling with unimaginable loss. This tragic event, which occurred at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, has resulted in nine fatalities and twenty-seven individuals injured, marking it as the worst mass shooting in Canadian history.
Details of the School Shooting
On Tuesday afternoon, just after 1 p.m., the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were alerted to an active shooter situation at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Upon entering the building, officers discovered six victims who had been killed: a female teacher, three female students, and two male students. One victim was found in a stairwell, while the others were located in the school's library.
In addition to those killed at the school, two more individuals were found dead in a nearby home on Fellers Avenue. These victims have been identified as the shooter's mother and stepbrother, bringing the total death toll to nine. The shooter, identified as 18-year-old transgender woman Jesse Van Rootselaar, was found dead inside the school from a self-inflicted injury.
Community Response and Ongoing Investigation
As the sun rose Wednesday over the still snowy northeastern B.C. town, police continued to maintain a perimeter around Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where the shooting unfolded. Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald of the B.C. RCMP confirmed that a long gun and a modified handgun were recovered by police at the scene.
Rev. Gerald Krauss, who was up until 4 a.m. comforting parents still waiting for news of their children, expressed the community's profound grief. "These kids should be playing hockey or just being kids but life has just been completely turned upside down," he said, capturing the devastating impact on the town's youth.
Medical Response and Survivor Updates
Of the twenty-seven injured individuals, two were airlifted for critical care, while a third was initially believed to have died en route to the hospital. Police have since confirmed that this individual has survived. Another twenty-five people at the school were assessed and treated on-site for various injuries.
The emergency alert sent out during the incident described the suspect as a "female in a dress with brown hair." The community went into a lockdown that lasted several hours as police responded to the crisis.
Community Impact and Ongoing Support
Just a five-minute drive from the school, a police car remained parked outside a residential home on Fellers Avenue, where officers were going door-to-door to speak with residents early Wednesday morning. One resident, who lives across the street from the house that appeared to be the focus of the police investigation, said, "This is too close to home to talk about right now," reflecting the raw emotions gripping the community.
The tragedy has left Tumbler Ridge, a small community in B.C.'s Peace region, struggling to comprehend the scale of the loss. As the investigation continues and the community begins the long process of healing, support services have been mobilized to assist those affected by this devastating event.
