Canada community mourns after shooter kills 9, including self

A remote mining town in western Canada is mourning the loss of at least eight people who were killed in a Feb. 10 mass shooting at a secondary school, an attack that has shaken the country and renewed questions about mental health and school safety. 

The shooting occurred at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia, authorities said Feb. 11. Police identified the suspect, who was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, a man who began identifying as a “transgender” woman about six years ago. Van Rootselaar allegedly killed two of his family members at home — his 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother — before opening fire at the school. 

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police identified the six people killed inside the school: Abel Mwansa Jr., 12; Ezekiel Schofield, 13; Kylie Smith, 12; Zoey Benoit, 12; Ticaria Lampert, 12; and educator Shannda Aviugana-Durand, 39. Authorities said dozens more were wounded in the attack. One of the wounded, 12-year-old Maya Edmonds, is in critical condition at a Vancouver hospital after being shot in the head and neck, according to updates from her family posted on a GoFundMe page. A fundraising page from another victim, Paige Hoekstra, said she is recovering in the hospital after suffering “one gunshot wound to the chest” and undergoing surgery.

Authorities said that Van Rootselaar had previously attended the school but dropped out about four years ago. According to the BBC, officials visited the suspect’s residence multiple times in recent years for mental health-related calls. No motive has been publicly determined.

Families share tributes 

As the community grieved, families began publicly honoring the victims. The father of one victim, 12-year-old Abel Mwansa Jr., shared a tribute to his son in a series of posts on Facebook. 

“If I had power to give life I would have brought you back to life together with others that where killed alongside you but son my power is limited, and seeing your child murdered at this age is heart breaking,” he wrote in one post.

Kylie Smith, also 12, was remembered by her aunt, Shanon Dycke, on a GoFundMe page as a “beautiful, kind, innocent soul.” Dycke said her “heart aches for the other families involved and for the loss of their children.” 

The grandfather of 13-year-old Ezekiel Schofield also confirmed his grandson’s death on social media and thanked the outpouring of “messages, prayers, and support” from the public. 

Canada marks day of mourning

The British Columbia government declared Feb. 12 a day of mourning for the province, and Prime Minister Mark Carney called for all Canadian flags on government buildings to be lowered to half-staff for seven days.

U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra said Feb. 12 that flags at all U.S. missions in Canada will also be lowered to half-staff. He shared images of the American flag being lowered outside the U.S. consulate in Vancouver.

“We continue to pray for all those affected by this tragedy,” he said in a post on X.

At the same time, Carney confirmed in a statement to Global News that he will travel to the community on Feb. 13 for a public vigil honoring the victims.