Canadian authorities confirmed on February 12, 2026, that an 18-year-old suspect with a history of mental health interventions carried out a deadly school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, before dying by suicide. The attack, which killed eight victims and the perpetrator, marks one of Canada’s worst mass shootings in recent history.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald revealed the suspect, Jesse Van Rootselaar, had been apprehended multiple times under mental health protocols prior to the tragedy. After fatally shooting her mother and stepbrother at home, Van Rootselaar attacked her former school with a long gun and modified handgun, killing a teacher and five students aged 12–13.
Prime Minister Mark Carney postponed international travel to address the crisis, calling for national unity while ordering flags flown at half-mast. The incident has reignited debates about mental health support and firearm regulations, particularly regarding minor licensing rules that allowed the suspect to obtain weapons despite documented psychological struggles.
As the remote community of 2,400 grapples with grief, global leaders including King Charles III expressed condolences. Investigators continue to analyze motives, emphasizing the attack’s rarity in a country where school shootings remain exceptionally uncommon compared to neighboring regions.
