Pronoun Fight Erupts After Massacre

Canadian police insist on using a mass shooter’s preferred pronouns even as families grieve nine dead in a tiny town shattered by unthinkable violence.

Story Snapshot

18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar killed mother, stepbrother, then stormed former school, leaving nine dead and 24 wounded before suicide.
RCMP confirms suspect’s transgender identity after six-year transition, vows to use “she/her” pronouns amid public backlash.
Tumbler Ridge, population 2,400, reels from its worst nightmare; mayor knew most victims personally.
Mental health crises flagged repeatedly, guns confiscated then returned—motive still unknown.
Deadliest Canadian mass shooting since 2020 sparks gun control, mental health, and gender debates nationwide.

Attack Unfolds in Remote Tumbler Ridge

Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, started the rampage on February 11, 2026, at her family home in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. She shot her 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother dead. Van Rootselaar then moved to a nearby school where she once studied before dropping out four years earlier. Gunfire erupted inside, killing one 39-year-old educator, three 12-year-old girls, and two boys aged 12 and 13. She ended her life at the scene. Twenty-four others suffered wounds; two girls airlifted in serious condition.

RCMP Identifies Suspect and Commits to Pronouns

RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald named Jesse Van Rootselaar on February 12. Born male, she transitioned six years prior and identified publicly as female. McDonald confirmed police would use her preferred name and pronouns in all communications. This stance drew criticism as families mourned. Authorities stressed standard practice respects self-identification, even for perpetrators. Investigation by BCRCMP Major Crime Unit probes full details without confirmed motive.

Suspect’s Troubled Past Raises Red Flags

Police visited the family home multiple times over years for mental health crises. Van Rootselaar faced apprehension under British Columbia’s Mental Health Act more than once. She held a lapsed firearms license. Weapons seized earlier got returned, enabling the attack. She no longer attended the school but chose it deliberately. Strict Canadian gun laws make school shootings rare, yet failures in intervention allowed tragedy. This mirrors patterns where warnings go unheeded.

Prime Minister Mark Carney ordered flags at half-mast for seven days. He addressed Parliament: Parents and siblings in Tumbler Ridge awake without loved ones; Canada stands with them. Premier David Eby called it unimaginable. Mayor Darryl Krakowka, knowing most victims, described his tight-knit town of 2,400 as one big family now broken.

Political Firestorm Over Gender and Violence

Debate exploded over Van Rootselaar’s transgender status. Authorities declared violence stems not from gender identity, deeming attacks on trans communities harmful. Yet facts show repeated mental health interventions ignored, guns mishandled. Common sense demands prioritizing public safety over pronouns when killers are involved—American conservatives see this as ideology trumping reality. Motive unclear, but history points to untreated illness, not identity, as core driver. Policy must fix intervention gaps.

Lasting Scars and Policy Reckoning

Tumbler Ridge faces profound trauma; its small size amplifies grief. Nation mourns worst shooting since Nova Scotia’s 2020 rampage killing 22. Discussions reignite on gun bans, mental health protocols, school security in remote areas, and firearm returns. Gender policies in policing face scrutiny too. Victims’ families seek answers as investigation continues into February 13. Canada confronts how to prevent repeats without politicizing pain.