One of the bloodiest shootings in the country's history took place in Tumbler Ridge, Canada. 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar shot and killed eight people, including her mother and brother, before committing suicide. Prime Minister Mark Carney and opposition leader Pierre Poilievre appeared together at the scene. The investigation shows that police repeatedly intervened at the perpetrator's home regarding her mental health, and the attack was simulated in a digital environment.
On Tuesday, February 10, a sequence of events in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, ended with the deaths of nine people, including the perpetrator. The chronology of the attack indicates methodical action by 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar. The drama began in the family home, where the teenager shot her mother and 11-year-old brother. Then, armed with two firearms, she went to the local Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. There, she opened fire, killing five students and a teacher and injuring 25 others. The perpetrator took her own life at the scene.
The investigation reveals a systemic gap in prevention. The perpetrator was known to law enforcement; police had repeatedly visited her home due to mental health problems. Despite warning signs, the teenager had access to firearms. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that Van Rootselaar had prepared for the attack in virtual space, creating a mass shooting simulator on the Roblox platform. This indicates premeditation and the use of digital tools to plan a crime in the real world.
This event is an anomaly in Canadian crime statistics. Unlike the United States, Canada has restrictive laws regarding access to firearms, and mass school shootings are a marginal phenomenon. The scale of the tragedy in Tumbler Ridge invites comparisons to the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre, which defined the modern Canadian approach to gun control. The current situation reopens the debate on the effectiveness of procedures for individuals with mental disorders who exhibit violent tendencies.
The political reaction to the tragedy took the form of a demonstrative unity. On Friday, three days after the attack, a prayer vigil was held in Tumbler Ridge. Prime Minister Mark Carney and Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre participated side by side, a rare gesture in politics of suspending partisan divisions. The presence of the highest state authorities, including Governor General Mary Simon, in the small mining community underscores the scale of the shock this event caused across the entire country.
Victim count
8 people killed (mother, brother, 5 students, teacher) and the perpetrator; 25 people were injured.
Warning signs
Police repeatedly intervened at the perpetrator's home due to her mental health problems before the attack.
Digital planning
The 18-year-old created a shooting simulator on the Roblox platform before carrying out the real attack.
Political reaction
Prime Minister Carney and opposition leader Poilievre jointly participated in the memorial ceremonies.