Ottawa, Feb 12: Investigation into the deadly rampage in Tumbler Ridge has revealed that the suspect behind one of Canada’s deadliest school shootings was an 18-year-old woman with a history of significant mental health interventions, according to police reports released Wednesday. Jesse Van Rootselaar was discovered dead from a self-inflicted wound after attacking a teacher and five students at her former school in the remote community of Tumbler Ridge.
Records show that the suspect began identifying as female approximately six years ago and was known to the local community as a resident who had struggled with wellness issues. Investigators noted that police had previously responded to the family home on several occasions, including instances involving weapons concerns. Despite these prior assessments and a temporary seizure of firearms from the residence, the suspect was able to access the weapons used in Tuesday’s tragedy.
“I can say that on different occasions the suspect was apprehended for assessment and follow-up,” Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald noted during a briefing. He also mentioned that the suspect acted alone and that there is currently no evidence to suggest specific victims were targeted at the school.
The impact of the event has been felt across the province, with local leaders acknowledging the difficulty of the road ahead. Provincial legislator Larry Neufeld directly said that the level of devastation in the small town is nearly impossible to describe, adding that “it’s going to take a significant amount of effort and a significant amount of courage to repair that terror.”
