Warning Signs in Tumbler Ridge Mass Shooting: Firearms, Drugs, and Mental Health History
Two days after Jesse Van Rootselaar carried out one of Canada's deadliest mass shootings in nearly forty years, killing eight people in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, investigators continue to search for a clear motive that may never be fully understood. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed the perpetrator's identity on Wednesday, revealing that Van Rootselaar, an 18-year-old who had begun transitioning from male to female approximately six years earlier, left behind a trail of concerning indicators that are now being scrutinized as potential warning signs.
Social Media Footprint Reveals Disturbing Interests
As the investigation unfolds, authorities and the public alike are examining whether Van Rootselaar's documented interests in firearms, historical mass shootings, and drug use—coupled with a history of mental health interactions with police—provided clues to the impending violence. Various social media accounts linked to the teenager have surfaced since the shooting, though all are now inactive or set to private.
Among these was a YouTube channel that featured a profile image of a female anime character alongside a rifle against a pink-and-white background, potentially representing a transgender pride flag. The channel, which YouTube deactivated for violating community guidelines, carried the description "None of this makes sense" and had usernames that evolved from JesseBoy to JessJessUwU—the latter term commonly used in online communities to express happiness and cuteness.
Firearms Enthusiasm and Drug References
Archived versions of the account revealed videos showing Van Rootselaar firing a tactical 12-gauge shotgun and a semi-automatic carbine at a shooting range. This interest in firearms was reportedly shared by Jennifer Strang, Van Rootselaar's mother and one of the shooting victims, who encouraged Facebook friends in July 2021 to follow the page, noting her child "posts about hunting, self reliance, guns and stuff." In 2024, Strang captioned a Facebook photo of rifles in a hunting box with "Think it's time to take them out for some target practice."
Police confirmed that Van Rootselaar's minor's firearms license expired in 2024 and are investigating whether the weapons found at the scene—a long gun and a modified handgun—were legally obtained and by whom. Beyond firearms, social media posts attributed to Van Rootselaar discussed experimenting with DMT and psychedelic mushrooms, with one account describing a "complete break from reality" after consuming three grams of Blue Meanie mushrooms that allegedly resulted in irrational behavior and nearly burning down the family home.
Mental Health Interactions and Unanswered Questions
The combination of these factors—firearms fascination, drug experimentation, and documented mental health interactions with law enforcement—has raised critical questions about whether these elements constituted recognizable warning signs that could have been identified earlier. As investigators piece together the timeline leading to the tragedy, the case highlights the complex interplay of personal history, social media presence, and behavioral indicators that often precede such violent events.
While the precise motive behind the Tumbler Ridge shooting remains elusive, the emerging details about Van Rootselaar's background provide a sobering case study in the patterns that can precede mass violence, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and addressing multiple risk factors in preventive efforts.
