Canada Mass Shooting: Suspect Identified As Transgender Teen

The shooter who killed eight people in British Columbia has been identified as a transgender female, officials confirmed, adding that the suspect’s mother and stepbrother were among the victims.

Police on Wednesday revised the death toll from Tuesday’s attacks at a home and a school to eight, clarifying that a woman earlier believed to have died remains in serious condition in the hospital. Including the shooter’s suicide, the total number of deaths stands at nine.

Canadian federal police Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald identified the suspect as Jesse Van Rootselaar, an 18-year-old male who began transitioning to female six years ago. He said he would refer to the person as a female.

McDonald said the suspect first killed her mother and stepbrother at their home before carrying out a shooting at the local high school in Tumbler Ridge, a town of about 2,400 residents.

A woman educator and five students, three girls and two boys aged 12 to 13, were found dead in the school library and on a staircase. Police arrived within two minutes of receiving the alert.

Van Rootselaar, who had dropped out of school four years ago, later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Prime Minister Mark Carney told Parliament the killings ‘left our nation in shock and all of us in mourning’.

“It is a town of miners, teachers, construction workers — families who have built their lives there, people who have always shown up for each other there”, he said.

Police said they had previously responded to the suspect’s home over mental health concerns, with weapons involved in some cases. Firearms seized but later returned to the lawful owner after a petition.

India Expresses Condolences

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences, posting, “Deeply shocked by the horrendous shooting in Canada. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones and wish a speedy recovery to the injured. India stands in solidarity with the people of Canada in this moment of profound grief.”

Mass shootings are rare in Canada, which has strict gun laws.

The last major school attack was in Montreal in 1989, while the deadliest recent massacre occurred in Nova Scotia in 2020.

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