On Tuesday, February 10th, eight people were killed, and many more were injured in one of the deadliest shootings in Canada’s history. Six of the nine people killed were children.
This shooting occurred at a secondary school in Tumbler Ridge. Tumbler Ridge is a small mining town with a population of about 2,400 residents in the foothills of the B.C. Rockies in northeastern British Columbia. The school has 160 students ranging from grades seven to twelve. A report of an active shooter at 1:20 pm on Tuesday. When officers arrived moments later, gunshots were heard, and when the officers approached the school, shots were fired in their direction (The Guardian).
The suspect’s name is Jesse Van Rootselaar, who is an 18-year-old woman who lives in Tumbler Ridge. She had dropped out of school four years before the shooting. There has been no note found that explains a motive for the killing that occurred. However, she was dealt with before due to mental health issues.
There were six people killed in the school: a 39-year-old teacher and five children. Three of the kids were girls, each 12 years old. The two boys killed were ages 12 and 13. 25 other people were injured during the shooting, all of whom were treated at a medical facility nearby. The other students and staff in the school were safely evacuated.
The other two victims of the suspect were killed before the shooting took place: a 39-year-old woman and a child, aged 11 years. These two are believed to be the mother and step-brother of the shooting suspect. Another sibling was present when this shooting happened and alerted a neighbor.
