An 18-year-old has been named as the suspect in a shooting that killed eight people and injured dozens more in British Columbia, Canada. Police said Jesse Van Rootselaar was found dead at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot injury. The motive for the attack is not yet known.
Six people were killed and at least 25 others were injured at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Two others - the suspect's mother, aged 39, and step-brother, aged 11 - were found dead at a nearby home. Authorities reported that Van Rootselaar was born a biological male but identified as a woman.
I can say that Jesse was born as a biological male who approximately six years ago began to transition to female, said Dwayne McDonald, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) deputy commissioner. The shooting at the family home occurred first, followed by the incident at the school.
Victims at the school included a 39-year-old female educator, three female students aged 12, and two male students aged 12 and 13. Authorities believe that there are no other suspects involved.
Police indicated they had attended the suspect's family home multiple times over recent years, addressing various mental health concerns. Van Rootselaar previously held a valid gun license, which had since lapsed, and had dropped out of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School four years ago.
Around 13:30 local time, police responded to reports of an active shooter at the secondary school, arriving just minutes after the call and hearing gunfire upon arrival. They quickly located the shooter, who was deceased upon their entry. The scene revealed two firearms, a long gun and a modified handgun, though it remains unclear how they were used in the shooting.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke about the tragedy, stating the students and teachers faced unprecedented cruelty during the attack. Tumbler Ridge, with a population of about 2,400, has a close-knit community, and Mayor Darryl Krakowka expressed deep personal ties to the victims, saying he expected to know them all.
Six people were killed and at least 25 others were injured at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Two others - the suspect's mother, aged 39, and step-brother, aged 11 - were found dead at a nearby home. Authorities reported that Van Rootselaar was born a biological male but identified as a woman.
I can say that Jesse was born as a biological male who approximately six years ago began to transition to female, said Dwayne McDonald, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) deputy commissioner. The shooting at the family home occurred first, followed by the incident at the school.
Victims at the school included a 39-year-old female educator, three female students aged 12, and two male students aged 12 and 13. Authorities believe that there are no other suspects involved.
Police indicated they had attended the suspect's family home multiple times over recent years, addressing various mental health concerns. Van Rootselaar previously held a valid gun license, which had since lapsed, and had dropped out of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School four years ago.
Around 13:30 local time, police responded to reports of an active shooter at the secondary school, arriving just minutes after the call and hearing gunfire upon arrival. They quickly located the shooter, who was deceased upon their entry. The scene revealed two firearms, a long gun and a modified handgun, though it remains unclear how they were used in the shooting.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke about the tragedy, stating the students and teachers faced unprecedented cruelty during the attack. Tumbler Ridge, with a population of about 2,400, has a close-knit community, and Mayor Darryl Krakowka expressed deep personal ties to the victims, saying he expected to know them all.
