The British Columbia school shooting attack has left nine people dead in one of the deadliest incidents in recent Canadian history.
Police identified the suspect as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar. Authorities said she acted alone before taking her own life after the attack in Tumbler Ridge, a remote community in British Columbia.
Investigators revised the death toll to nine. Officials confirmed that the suspect had prior interactions with police related to mental health concerns.
British Columbia School Shooting Attack Details
According to Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, officers had attended the suspect’s family residence several times over the past few years.
Police said the suspect first killed her mother and 11-year-old stepbrother at home. She then went to a local school, where she fatally shot a teacher and several students.
Authorities stated that it remains too early to determine a motive. However, they believe the attacker acted alone.
The suspect in a deadly school shooting in western Canada, Jesse Van Rootselaar, was an 18-year-old woman with mental health issues who killed her mother and stepbrother before attacking her former school, police said, but investigators did not offer a motive for one of the worst…
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 12, 2026The tragedy has shaken the small community. Local leaders described the devastation as overwhelming and called for unity during the mourning period.
Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the nation shortly after the incident. He described the shooting as “terrible” and postponed a planned trip to Europe.
Carney ordered flags on all government buildings to be flown at half-mast for seven days. He urged Canadians to come together to support one another and grieve collectively.
King Charles, Canada’s head of state, expressed deep sorrow and offered condolences to the victims’ families.
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The shooting ranks among the most severe in Canadian history. Although Canada maintains stricter gun laws than the United States, licensed firearm ownership remains legal.
Past mass shootings have also left lasting scars on the country. These include the 2020 Nova Scotia rampage and the 1989 Ecole Polytechnique attack in Montreal.
Community leaders emphasised that recovery will require resilience and collective support. Officials continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack.
