On February 10, a violent shooting shook the community of Tumbler Ridge, a small town in northern British Columbia (Canada). The death toll stands at nine, with more than 25 people injured. The incident is one of the most serious mass shootings in the country’s recent history.

According to reconstructions by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the attack took place at approximately 1:20 p.m. local time at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, a public high school. The school is located more than 1,000 kilometers north of Vancouver, in a remote area of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Before targeting the school, the perpetrator allegedly killed his mother and brother at home.

The suspected attacker was found dead inside the school and is believed to have died by suicide. A significant number of people suffered gunshot wounds or injuries caused by the panic and stampede. Some of the injured were airlifted to regional hospitals by medical helicopters, and two are reportedly in serious or potentially life-threatening condition.

Identity of the Attacker and Investigation

Initially, police indicated that the suspected shooter was a woman, without releasing details regarding identity, motives, or prior connections. In the following hours, the name of the attacker was disclosed. The suspect has been identified as Jesse Van Rootselaar, an 18-year-old male-to-female transgender. Law enforcement authorities are continuing to investigate residences connected to the incident to determine whether there were additional locations from which the violence originated.

Authorities have also confirmed that there are no other suspects at large and that the community is no longer considered under direct threat, allowing “active shooter” alerts to be lifted.

Political and Social Reactions

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that he was “devastated” by the news and canceled an overseas trip to attend an international conference in order to remain alongside authorities and the families affected by the tragedy. British Columbia Premier David Eby described the attack as an “unimaginable tragedy.” The school district announced the closure of the school for the entire week and activated psychological support services for students and staff.

Although mass shootings are not frequent in Canada, they are not entirely unprecedented. Among the most notable past incidents is the 1989 École Polytechnique shooting in Montreal, one of the deadliest in Canadian history. The tragedy in Tumbler Ridge, given the number of victims, has renewed public attention on gun violence beyond the United States, where such incidents are statistically more common. It also highlights how such events remain possible even in a country with relatively strict firearm regulations.