B.C. Mass Shooting: Investigation Deepens as RCMP Release New Details

The investigation into the devastating mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, continues to unfold as police piece together what happened inside a quiet northern community that is now grappling with grief and shock. Authorities say the violence began shortly after 1:20 in the afternoon on February 10 when RCMP received a report of an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Officers from the local detachment arrived within minutes and encountered active gunfire as they approached the building.

Police entered the school and located the suspected shooter deceased inside with what appeared to be a self inflicted injury. The suspect has been identified as 18 year old Jesse Van Rootselaar, a resident of the area. Investigators say two firearms were recovered at the scene, described as a long gun and a modified handgun, and determining how they were obtained and used remains a central focus of the ongoing investigation.

What investigators have since confirmed paints a heartbreaking picture that extends beyond the school walls. Before the attack at the school, two people were killed at a nearby residence connected to the suspect. Police later confirmed that the victims at the home were relatives. After that initial violence, the suspect went to the school where several students and a teacher were among those killed. The suspect later died at the scene.

The number of people killed has been reported between eight and ten depending on how early counts were recorded, but officials agree the tragedy represents one of the deadliest school shootings in modern Canadian history. Dozens of others were injured, with more than twenty five people treated and several airlifted to hospital with serious injuries.

RCMP say the suspect is believed to have acted alone and there is currently no indication of additional threats to the public. The motive remains unclear, and investigators are carefully examining the suspect’s background, movements, and past interactions with police. Authorities have acknowledged that there had been previous police visits to the residence over the years related to mental health concerns, but they stress that the investigation is still in its early stages and conclusions cannot yet be drawn.

Students and staff were placed into lockdown as the situation unfolded, with many barricading inside classrooms until officers secured the building. In the hours that followed, emergency alerts were issued to residents, urging people to stay inside while police worked to confirm that there were no other suspects. By early evening, those alerts were lifted once officers were confident the immediate danger had passed.

The small community of Tumbler Ridge, home to only a few thousand people, is now facing the long road of healing. Schools have remained closed in the aftermath as families mourn and counselling supports are being made available. Leaders across the province and the country have expressed condolences, recognizing that tragedies of this scale are rare but deeply felt, especially in close knit towns where nearly everyone knows one another.

For the RCMP, the work now turns to answering the questions that remain. Investigators are trying to reconstruct the full timeline, determine the origin of the firearms, and understand the circumstances that led to the violence. Police continue to ask for patience as they gather evidence and speak with witnesses, saying it will take time before the complete picture becomes clear.