The 18-year-old suspect who carried out one of the deadliest school shootings in Canadian history has been identified as Jesse Van Rootselaer, a resident of the small northeastern British Columbia community of Tumbler Ridge .
Authorities confirmed Wednesday that the attack left eight victims dead, not nine as initially reported, along with the suspect who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound . The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) clarified the discrepancy arose after a victim airlifted to hospital was mistakenly believed to have died .
Victims Include Teacher, Students, and Shooter's Family
The victims included a 39-year-old teacher and five students aged 12 to 13 at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School . Police also confirmed that the suspect's 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother were found dead at a home connected to the shooter. The killings at the residence occurred first, with a young family member fleeing to a neighbor's home to alert authorities .
Police said the suspect had no familial relationship with any of the victims at the school .
Identity and Background
RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald confirmed that Van Rootselaer had a history of mental health contact with police . The suspect was not enrolled at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School at the time of the attack and had previously dropped out .
While police described the suspect in an emergency alert as "a woman in a dress with brown hair," RCMP clarified that Van Rootselaer was born biologically male and identified according to how "they chose to be identified in public and social media" . A public YouTube account believed to belong to the suspect displayed the transgender pride flag and used "she/her" pronouns .
Investigators confirmed Van Rootselaer once possessed a firearms license, but it had expired and no firearms were registered to her. A long gun and a modified handgun were recovered at the scene .
Attack Timeline and Police Response
RCMP received the first report of an active shooter at approximately 1:20 p.m. local time Tuesday . Officers arrived within two minutes and encountered gunfire upon entering the school .
Six victims were found dead inside the school, and a seventh died while being transported to hospital . Two additional victims were located at the connected residence .
More than 25 people were wounded in the attack, including two with serious or life-threatening injuries who were airlifted for medical care .
Motive Remains Unknown
Authorities said they "will struggle" to ever determine a definitive motive for the attack . Deputy Commissioner McDonald stated there is currently "no information at this point that anyone was specifically targeted" .
Police continue to investigate how the shooter was connected to the victims and whether any indicators were missed along the way .
Community Mourning
Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka described the community of 2,400 as a "big family." "I broke down. I have lived here for 18 years. I probably know every one of the victims," he said .
Shelley Quist, whose 17-year-old son Darian was barricaded in the school library during the attack, said her neighbor lost her 12-year-old son. "We heard his mom. She was in the street crying. She wanted her son's body," Quist recounted .
Prime Minister Mark Carney, visibly emotional, addressed the nation: "Parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers in Tumbler Ridge will wake up without someone they love. The nation mourns with you, and Canada stands by you" .
Flags at federal buildings will fly at half-mast for seven days . Carney has canceled his planned trip to the Munich Security Conference .
The school district announced both the secondary and elementary schools will remain closed for the remainder of the week .
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