Canada Shooting Victims Named as Community Mourns After Deadly Attack

A Tranquil Town Torn Apart
Tumbler Ridge is a small remote community nestled in the foothills of northeastern British Columbia. For generations, families in the region have shared deep bonds formed through school events, local sports, outdoor recreation, and long winters spent together.

The interconnectedness of neighbors is part of daily life — where children know one another by name and parents greet each other warmly at the grocery store or community center.

Yet on that Tuesday afternoon shortly after 1:20 p.m. local time, an active shooter alert would shatter that sense of security.

Residents heard the first reports of gunfire near a home on Fellers Avenue — a quiet residential street — shortly before the suspect entered nearby Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, a place where students learn, gather, and imagine their futures.

How the Tragedy Unfolded
According to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and official emergency records:

The suspected gunman — **18‑year‑old Jesse Van Rootselaar — first shot and killed their 39‑year‑old mother and their 11‑year‑old half‑brother at a private residence.