What we know about the teenager behind the Tumbler Ridge, B.C., mass shooting

February 13, 2026

RCMP identified Jesse Van Rootselaar in a Tumbler Ridge shooting that killed eight. Police cited prior calls to the family home involving mental health and weapons.

Key Points

RCMP identified 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar as the shooter
Police say eight people were killed, including mother and stepbrother
Suspect shot herself after attack at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School
Two firearms recovered at school; neither registered to suspect
RCMP noted prior calls to family home on mental health and weapons
Suspect held a firearms licence that expired in 2024
Family court file described children’s “almost nomadic” early years

RCMP have identified 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar as the suspect in a mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., that left eight people dead and injured more than two dozen others. Police say the suspect killed her mother and stepbrother at their home before shooting six more people at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where she then turned the gun on herself.

RCMP identification and sequence of events

On Wednesday, RCMP named Jesse Van Rootselaar as the person responsible for the killings the day before. Police said they were investigating circumstances leading up to the tragedy, including the suspect’s relationship with the two family members killed at home.

According to RCMP, Van Rootselaar shot her mother and stepbrother at the family residence, then travelled about two kilometres to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. There, police say she killed six more people, injured more than two dozen others, and then shot herself.

Police said they identified the suspect in the same manner as she did publicly and on social media. According to RCMP, the 18-year-old was assigned male at birth but began transitioning to female about six years ago.

Firearms recovered and licensing details

RCMP said two firearms were recovered at the high school: a long gun and a modified handgun. Neither weapon was registered to Van Rootselaar, according to police.

Police also said Van Rootselaar had a firearms licence that expired in 2024. In Canada, children aged 12 to 17 may apply for a minor’s firearms licence, permitting them to borrow non-restricted firearms for approved purposes such as learning about the use of firearms, shooting competitions, hunting or target practice.

An RCMP spokesperson said firearms had been seized from the family home two years ago under the Criminal Code. The lawful owner of those weapons petitioned for their return.

Prior police attendance and mental health calls

RCMP said there was a history of police attendance at the family residence over the past two years. Some calls were related to mental health issues. Police cited an instance when the suspect was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and taken to hospital for assessment.

Family background and court records

Social media accounts connected to the suspect drew worldwide scrutiny, as did accounts linked to Van Rootselaar’s mother, Jennifer Strang, and extended family members across Canada, from Newfoundland to B.C.’s Sunshine Coast.

A B.C. Supreme Court family file from 2015 detailed the children’s movements with their mother. In a ruling directing Strang to provide her children with telephone access to their father, Justice Anthony Saunder described the family’s mobility.

“These children have led an almost nomadic life,”

— Justice Anthony Saunder, CBC News

The ruling noted moves over five years between Newfoundland, Grand Cache and Powell River. At the time of the court dispute, Strang sought to relocate the children to Newfoundland so they could enter school in that province. She was pregnant and said “she made the move to Newfoundland so that she could receive support from her family.”

“It can hardly be the case that the children are tied”

— Justice Anthony Saunder, CBC News

Family Facebook posts over subsequent years showed celebrations of Van Rootselaar’s milestones. A 2021 post from Strang’s account indicated the suspect’s interest in weapons and outdoor activities, linking to a now-deleted YouTube channel.

“Check out my oldest son Jesse Strang’s YouTube channel.”

— Jennifer Strang, CBC News

Ongoing investigation

RCMP said they were continuing to investigate all aspects of the case, including the events at the family home and the subsequent attack at the school. Police said social media accounts linked to the suspect and her family were under scrutiny following the shooting.

As part of the investigation, police emphasized adherence to identifying the suspect as she did in public and on social media, noting the suspect’s transition to female began about six years prior.

What police have confirmed so far

Suspect identified by RCMP as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar
Eight victims killed, including the suspect’s mother and stepbrother
More than two dozen injured at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School
Suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot, according to police
Two firearms seized at the school: a long gun and a modified handgun
Neither firearm was registered to the suspect, police said
Previous police calls to the family home related to mental health and weapons
Suspect once apprehended under the Mental Health Act for assessment
Firearms previously seized from the home; lawful owner later sought their return
Suspect held a firearms licence that expired in 2024

Social media scrutiny and public records

RCMP said accounts connected to the suspect and to Jennifer Strang were examined closely after the incident. Family posts chronicled shared events and the suspect’s interests, including content on hunting, self-reliance, and firearms. The 2015 B.C. Supreme Court file provided background on the family’s moves, the children’s schooling, and conditions set by the court regarding contact with their father.

Community impact and next steps

Police said they were reviewing the chain of events from the family residence to the school and examining how firearms were accessed and transported. The investigation includes assessing any prior police interactions at the home and their relevance to the timeline described by RCMP.

Authorities have not released further details on the injured. The focus remains on reconstructing events leading to the shootings, reviewing firearm provenance, and assessing social media content tied to the suspect and family, as described by police.

Source: CBC News (link), used for discovery. Facts verified, wording original.

Who did RCMP identify as the suspect in the Tumbler Ridge shooting?

RCMP identified 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar as the suspect in the Tumbler Ridge, B.C., mass shooting. Police said she killed eight people, including her mother and stepbrother, before travelling to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and shooting six more victims. According to RCMP, more than two dozen people were injured. Police said Van Rootselaar then turned the gun on herself at the school. RCMP stated they are identifying the suspect in the same manner as she did in public and on social media, noting that she was assigned male at birth and began transitioning to female about six years ago.

What sequence of events did police describe in the shootings?

RCMP said the violence began at the suspect’s family home, where Jesse Van Rootselaar shot her mother and stepbrother. Police said she then went to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, approximately two kilometres from the residence, where she killed six more people and injured more than two dozen others. According to police, she subsequently shot herself. RCMP emphasized that investigators are examining the circumstances leading up to the tragedy, including the relationship between the suspect and the two family members killed at the home, as they work to clarify the full timeline.

What firearms did police recover and were they registered to the suspect?

RCMP reported seizing two firearms at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School: a long gun and a modified handgun. Police said neither weapon was registered to Jesse Van Rootselaar. RCMP added that the suspect held a firearms licence that expired in 2024. An RCMP spokesperson said that firearms had been seized from the family home two years prior under the Criminal Code, and that the lawful owner of those weapons petitioned for their return. Police also noted that in Canada, minors aged 12 to 17 can apply for a firearms licence for specific approved purposes.

What prior police interactions occurred at the family home?

RCMP said there was a history of police attendance at the suspect’s family residence over the past two years, including calls related to mental health and weapons. According to police, one incident involved the suspect being apprehended under the Mental Health Act and taken to hospital for assessment. An RCMP spokesperson also stated that firearms were seized at the home two years earlier under the Criminal Code, and that the lawful owner later petitioned for their return. Investigators are reviewing these interactions as part of their broader examination of the events that led to the shootings.

What does the 2015 B.C. Supreme Court file reveal about the family?

A 2015 B.C. Supreme Court family case file cited in reporting describes the children’s movements with their mother, Jennifer Strang. Justice Anthony Saunder wrote that the children had led an “almost nomadic” life, with multiple moves over five years between Newfoundland, Grand Cache and Powell River. The ruling ordered Strang to provide telephone access so the children could communicate with their father. At the time, Strang sought to relocate the children to Newfoundland so they could enter that province’s school system and said she moved to receive support from her family during pregnancy.

What social media activity related to the suspect has been highlighted?

Police and reporting noted that social media accounts linked to the suspect and to her mother, Jennifer Strang, drew worldwide attention after the incident. Family posts over the years celebrated milestones in Jesse Van Rootselaar’s life. A 2021 Facebook post from Strang referenced the suspect’s interest in hunting, self-reliance, and firearms, linking to a now-deleted YouTube channel. RCMP said they were identifying the suspect consistent with her public and social media identity, including the detail that she was assigned male at birth and began transitioning to female about six years prior.

Sources: Original Source. Used for discovery; facts verified, wording original.

Peter Rowe

Peter Rowe leads First Nations News as Editor, with over three decades of experience across international newsrooms, digital platforms and media strategy roles. For the past 20 years, he’s worked in Australia – reporting, editing and advising on stories that shape public debate.