Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia is in mourning following a mass shooting on that left eight people dead, including six children. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to visit the remote mining town on to join a vigil for the victims and has invited leaders from all political parties to attend, underscoring the national shock and grief surrounding the tragedy.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) responded to reports of an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School at approximately 13:30 local time on . Prior to the school shooting, police were called to a nearby home at around 13:47 local time, where the suspect’s mother, 39-year-old Jennifer Jacobs (also known as Jennifer Strang), and 11-year-old stepbrother, Emmett Jacobs, were found deceased. The suspect, identified as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, was later found dead at the school from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Authorities have released the names of the six child victims: Abel Mwansa Jr., 12; Kylie Smith, 12; Ticaria Lampert, 12; Zoey Benoit, 12; Ezekiel Schofield, 13; and an assistant teacher, Shannda Aviugana-Durand, 39. The community is grappling with the loss of these individuals, with families sharing heartfelt tributes.
Kylie Smith was remembered by her family as “the light in our family,” a talented artist with dreams of attending art school in Toronto. Her father, Lance Younge, recounted spending hours searching for her at the local recreation center, where students were reuniting with their families, before receiving the devastating news. The family of Zoey Benoit described her as “resilient, vibrant, smart, caring and the strongest little girl you could meet.” Peter Schofield, whose grandson Ezekiel Schofield was killed, expressed his profound grief on Facebook, stating, “The tears just keep flowing.” Abel Mwansa Sr., the father of Abel Mwansa Jr., wrote on Facebook that he was “broken” seeing his son “lifeless,” recalling his son’s bright future, and potential.
Sarah Lampert, the mother of Ticaria Lampert, shared her grief, stating, “She just wanted to bring sunshine to everything and everyone she ever touched… I now have to figure out how to live life without her.”
The RCMP has confirmed that police had visited the suspect’s home on multiple occasions in the past, responding to concerns about mental health issues. Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald stated that officers had been called to the residence “over the past several years dealing with concerns of mental health with respect to our suspect.” On at least one occasion, firearms were seized from the home under the criminal code, but were later returned after the lawful owner petitioned for their release. Van Rootselaar had a firearms license that expired in 2024 and did not have any firearms registered in her name at the time of the shooting.
The tragedy has highlighted concerns about access to mental health services in Tumbler Ridge, a town of approximately 2,400 residents located more than 1,000km northeast of Vancouver. Trent Ernst, publisher of the local newspaper, Tumbler RidgeLines, noted the community’s frustration with the lack of adequate medical support, particularly in the area of mental health. He stated that the town often experiences periods without any dedicated mental health professionals.
A vigil was held on night, with Mayor Darryl Krakowka encouraging residents to support one another. Krakowka described the town as “one big family” and emphasized the need for ongoing support for the families of the victims.
The shooting is one of the deadliest in Canadian history, prompting a national conversation about gun control and mental health support. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to understand the motive behind the attack.
