Police in western Canada have identified an 18-year-old woman as the suspect in a horrific school shooting, which took place in the remote community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. Authorities believe she had been struggling with mental health issues. Before the attack, she fatally stabbed her mother and stepbrother.
Officials reported the details on Wednesday, although investigators have not yet disclosed a clear motive for what is considered one of the deadliest mass killings in Canadian history. The incident occurred on Tuesday in Tumbler Ridge, a small town with a population of approximately 2,400. Following the attack, the suspect, identified as Jessie Van Rutselaar, died by suicide. Initial police reports indicated ten fatalities, but revised figures confirmed nine deaths, including the shooter.
Hours later, the House of Commons observed a minute of silence. Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed the nation’s shock, stating: “This act of violence has left the country stunned and grieving.” Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Cracowka, speaking late Wednesday night, described the tight-knit community as “like a large family,” urging residents to “listen to those in need, offer a shoulder if someone needs it, and embrace one another.”
Deputy Commissioner MacDonald detailed the sequence of events: Van Rutselaar first killed her 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother at home. Assigned male at birth, she had publicly identified as female six years ago. She then entered her former school—where she had been a student until leaving four years prior—and opened fire on a 39-year-old female teacher, three 12-year-old female students, and two male students aged 12 and 13. Authorities recovered a long gun and a modified handgun at the scene.
Dozens of others were injured, with two in critical condition at local hospitals. One victim, 12-year-old Maya, sustained gunshot wounds to her head and neck; her mother, Sia Edmonds, reported via social media that Maya’s life hung in the balance. Police responded to the first emergency call within two minutes and faced active gunfire upon arrival.
| Category | Age | Number | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teacher | 39 | 1 | Female, deceased |
| Students | 12 | 3 | Female, deceased |
| Students | 12–13 | 2 | Male, deceased |
| Family | 39 & 11 | 2 | Mother and stepbrother, deceased |
| Injured | 12–13 | 12 | Hospitalised, 2 critical |
MacDonald stressed that Van Rutselaar acted alone and that there is currently no evidence indicating any specific target. Global leaders have expressed condolences, with Canada’s monarch, King Charles, describing himself as “deeply shocked and saddened.” Among the confirmed victims are Abel Mauwansa’s 12-year-old son Abel, and 12-year-old Kylie May Smith, niece of Shannon Dyck. Families across the community remain in mourning.
Canada’s firearm laws are stricter than those in the United States, though licensed ownership is permitted. Van Rutselaar’s firearm licence had expired in 2024. Canadian minors aged 12 to 17 may obtain a firearms licence after completing a safety course and passing an examination.
This shooting is now among the deadliest in Canadian history, following a 2020 rampage in Nova Scotia that left 22 dead, and the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal, in which 14 female students were killed and 13 injured.