TUMBLER RIDGE (British Columbia) – First shots fired at home, then at school. 9 dead and 27 injured. A massacre that shook the peace of the small community of Tumbler Ridge, over a thousand kilometers north of Vancouver, in British Columbia. 

It all happened within minutes, around 1:30 PM on Tuesday, at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and, shortly before, at a nearby house: when the police, called in response to the gunfire, raided the school, they found six victims (one teacher, 39 years-old, and five students between 12 and 13 years old: initially, the police had reported six dead students, but later corrected themselves) and the perpetrator of the massacre who had just committed suicide.

Initially, the police described the shooter cryptically as “a woman in a dress with brown hair.” Then, today, the same police – during a press conference where further details were provided – disclosed that the shooter was Jesse Van Rootselaar, a young transgender person who had attended the school but had dropped out, interrupting the studies. It is possible that Jesse had been a victim of bullying due to the decision to transition from male to female. This might be the motive for the massacre, which also involved Jesse’s mother, Jennifer Strang, and Jesse’s 11-year-old half-brother, Emmett, who were found dead in the nearby house: Jesse likely first shot their mother and half-brother before going to the school, where killed the teacher and five students before committing suicide.

Today, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that flags would be flown at half-mast for seven days on all federal buildings and expressed condolences to the families. “Obviously, this is a very difficult day for the nation,” he said, struggling to hold back tears. “This morning, parents, grandparents, sisters, and brothers will wake up without someone they love… the nation mourns with you, and Canada stands by you.” Carney also clarified that he had spoken with British Columbia Premier David Eby, and that “all necessary assistance will, of course, be provided,” thanking “first responders, teachers, staff, and residents for everything they have done in this terrible situation.”

Tumbler Ridge Secondary School serves students from middle school to senior grades and is a central hub for the community, which has a population of around 2,400 and an economy linked to mining and tourism. In such a small community, schools and public facilities are essential meeting places, making the impact of the attack even more dramatic.

School shootings are relatively rare in Canada, but there have been several serious incidents, including the 1989 École Polytechnique shooting in Montreal, where 14 women were killed by a 25-year-old who then committed suicide. The Tumbler Ridge massacre is still under investigation by the police to clarify the motive and circumstances of the attack. It is certainly one of the deadliest incidents in Canadian history and leaves the entire country in shock.

In the pic above: where Tumbler Ridge is located (image from Google Maps)

(Article updated after Police’s press conference / previous article here)