RCMP (Image Credit: EGP Staff)

By Tanner Smith with files from The Canadian Press

BC School Shooting

RCMP confirm suspect as 18-year-old in B.C. mass shooting, clarify death total

Feb 11, 2026 | 1:38 PM

Police say a female teacher and five students were among the victims of a mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge, B.C. on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026.

RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald says the 18-year-old female suspect Jesse Van Rootselaar, who was found dead at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, had a history of contact with police, and that the suspect’s mother and stepbrother were found dead at their home.

He says the suspect was born a biological male and was transitioning.

McDonald says police who turned up at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School arrived to the sound of “active gunfire,” including shots fired in the direction of police.

He says Van Rootselaar is believed to have initially killed his mother and stepbrother at the home where police have attended multiple mental health incidents.

He clarified that the death toll was nine, including Van Rootselaar, and not 10 as had been previously reported.

Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies Conservative MP Bob Zimmer called it “devastating,” and said he joins “millions across the country,” who are mourning with Tumbler Ridge, especially those who lost a child.

“I just can only imagine what those parents are feeling, whose kids aren’t going to walk through the door. They expected (their kids) to walk through the door after school yesterday, and they just didn’t come home.”

Zimmer notes that he and many across the country will also continue to “pray for those to recover that have been injured, and we just hope that they heal quickly, and that we, that the loss is stemmed to 10.”

The interview was conducted before RCMP clarified the death toll as nine.

Alberta RCMP are also sending their condolences to those in Tumbler Ridge.

Alberta Mounties say they are with heavy hearts and will continue to support their BC counterparts and the people in the community of Tumbler Ridge as they navigate this “incredibly challenging time.”

They also wanted to recognize their Emergency Response Teams, Police Dog Services, and Air Services who assisted in Tuesday’s situation; saying all frontline emergency responders “acted with courage, professionalism, and compassion during an extraordinarily difficult and rapidly evolving situation.”

More updates are expected.