Suspected gunman found dead after shooting at Canadian high school leaves 9 dead

No less than 9 folks have been killed Tuesday in a mass taking pictures at Tumbler Ridge Secondary College in Vancouver, British Columbia, officers mentioned Wednesday. Police recognized the suspect, additionally reportedly discovered lifeless, as an 18-year-old transgender girl who allegedly killed two of their kin at residence earlier than opening hearth on the college.

The Tumbler Ridge Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed to Fox Information Digital that officers responded to reviews of an lively shooter on the college at 1:20 PM native time on Tuesday. Whereas looking the varsity, officers discovered six victims lifeless from gunshot wounds and the alleged shooter, recognized as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, lifeless from what gave the impression to be a self-inflicted wound.

Authorities mentioned Van Rootselaar had attended the varsity earlier than dropping out about 4 years in the past. Van Rootselaar, who recognized as a lady however was assigned male at beginning, started transitioning six years in the past.

Van Rootselaar reportedly had a historical past of contact with police relating to psychological well being care and should have had entry to weapons saved at residence. Police mentioned officers have visited the house a number of occasions in recent times for psychological well being calls, with weapons briefly seized below the Felony Code however later returned following a petition from the authorized proprietor.

Police tape surrounds Tumbler Ridge Secondary College and different buildings in Tumbler Ridge, Vancouver, British Columbia, on Wednesday, a day after a mass taking pictures there. (Jesse Boily/The Canadian Press by way of AP)

Two firearms, an extended gun and a modified handgun, have been recovered by police on the college, RCMP mentioned. Neither weapon was registered within the identify of Van Rootselaar, who beforehand had a weapons allow, which expired in 2024.

The six victims discovered on the college have been recognized as a 39-year-old feminine trainer, three 12-year-old feminine college students and two male college students, ages 12 and 13.

In the course of the investigation, police recognized a secondary location believed to be associated to the incident. Two extra victims have been discovered lifeless inside a house and have been recognized because the suspect’s 39-year-old mom and 11-year-old stepbrother.

Officers added that two victims have been transported to a hospital with severe or life-threatening accidents. One of many injured, a lady beforehand thought to have died, is now alive, bringing the loss of life toll down from the initially reported 10 to 9.

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A screenshot of a video exhibits college students leaving Tumbler Ridge college after lethal shootings in British Columbia, Canada, on Tuesday. (Jordon Kosik by way of AP)

About 25 others with non-life-threatening accidents have been taken to the native medical heart for analysis, police mentioned.

“This was a quickly evolving and dynamic state of affairs, and the speedy collaboration of the varsity, first responders and the neighborhood performed a crucial position in our response,” North District Superintendent Ken Floyd mentioned in a press release. “Our ideas are with the households, family members and everybody affected by this tragic incident. This has been an extremely troublesome and emotional day for our neighborhood, and we’re grateful for the cooperation proven as officers proceed their work to advance the investigation.”

All different college students and workers have been safely evacuated from the varsity, police mentioned.

Police don’t imagine there are any extra suspects or that there’s an ongoing risk to the general public.

Floyd confirmed that the shooter was the identical particular person described in a police alert earlier within the day as a “girl in a costume with brown hair.”

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A map exhibiting the placement of the Tumbler Ridge college taking pictures. (The related press)

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney mentioned he was devastated by the horrific shootings.

“My prayers and deepest condolences exit to the households and buddies who’ve misplaced family members to those horrific acts of violence. I be a part of Canadians in mourning with these whose lives have been irreversibly modified immediately, and in gratitude for the braveness and selflessness of the primary responders who risked their lives to guard their fellow residents. Our skill to come back collectively in a disaster is the perfect of our nation – our empathy, our unity and our compassion for one another,” he wrote on X.

The RCMP initially confirmed an lively shooter incident at Tumbler Ridge Secondary College in British Columbia on Tuesday, during which at the very least one suspect was discovered lifeless.

Extra police sources have been deployed to the realm from neighboring detachments, along with the North District Emergency Response Workforce.

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In a single message The Peace River South College District mentioned on its web site that it was “conscious of a lockdown and safety at Tumbler Ridge Secondary and Tumbler Ridge Elementary faculties.”

“We ask folks for endurance as we work with the RCMP,” college officers wrote.

Larry Neufeld, who represents Peace River South within the British Columbia Legislative Meeting, launched a message statement on social media famous that he was on his strategy to the scene.

“I’m conscious of the lively shooter state of affairs at the moment unfolding in Tumbler Ridge, and my ideas are with the residents as this example continues to develop,” Neufeld wrote. “I’ve been in direct contact with the Solicitor Basic to obtain updates and make sure that all essential provincial sources are made out there to assist native regulation enforcement and emergency responders.

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“Public security is absolutely the precedence. I urge everybody within the space to observe RCMP directions, stay sheltered and rely solely on official updates,” he continued. “I’m leaving Victoria instantly to return to my driving to be on the bottom and out there to assist the neighborhood in any means I can. I’ll stay intently concerned as this example develops.”