Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia – A mass shooting in the remote northern British Columbia community of Tumbler Ridge has left eight people dead and more than 25 injured, authorities confirmed Tuesday. The shooting unfolded at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and a nearby residence, prompting a rapid response from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
The RCMP responded to reports of an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School at approximately 1:20 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (2:20 p.m. Mountain Standard Time) on February 10, 2026, issuing a Police Initiated Public Alert (PIPA). Officers arrived at the school within two minutes of the initial call, encountering active gunfire upon arrival, according to police statements.
Initial investigations led officers to identify 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar as the shooter. Van Rootselaar was found deceased inside the school with what appeared to be a self-inflicted injury. Two firearms – a long gun and a modified handgun – were recovered at the scene, and authorities are investigating their origin.
Prior to the shooting at the school, Van Rootselaar allegedly shot her mother and half-brother at a residence in Tumbler Ridge, according to RCMP. Six additional victims were killed at the school, and over two dozen others sustained injuries. Two of the injured were airlifted to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
“I broke down,” said Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka, describing the devastation felt by the community of approximately 2,700 people. “I probably know every one of the victims.”
The Rev. George Rowe of the Tumbler Ridge Fellowship Baptist Church, who once taught at the high school, described the scene at the local recreation center, where families were awaiting information about their loved ones. “It was not a pretty sight. Families are still waiting to hear if it’s their child that’s deceased and because of protocol and procedure, the investigating team is very careful in releasing names,” Rowe said.
British Columbia Premier David Eby acknowledged the swift response of law enforcement, stating that police officers reached the school within two minutes of receiving the initial call. The RCMP has not yet released the names of the victims, citing ongoing investigative procedures.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his devastation in a social media post, offering condolences to those affected and acknowledging the bravery of first responders. The shooting marks Canada’s deadliest rampage since 2020, when a gunman in Nova Scotia killed 13 people and set fires that left another nine dead.
The RCMP investigation is ongoing, focusing on determining the shooter’s motive and the connection between the victims. Authorities are similarly examining the circumstances surrounding the firearms used in the attack. The town of Tumbler Ridge, located more than 1,000 kilometers northeast of Vancouver, is in mourning.
