Images have surfaced showing the 18-year-old gunman responsible for one of Canada’s deadliest school attacks, including a photo where the individual grins while holding a rifle. Van Rootselaar, who had been expelled from Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia, returned to the school and killed six people before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Background and Family Photos
The photos originated from a 2021 Facebook post by the gunman’s grandmother, celebrating his 14th birthday. “Happy 14th birthday to our grandson Jesse !! Love you always !! XOXO,” the caption stated. One disturbing image depicts Van Rootselaar sitting on a sofa next to a young child, smiling at the camera with a rifle in hand.
Victims and Attack Sequence
Prior to the school assault, Van Rootselaar killed his mother, Jennifer Strang, 39, and 11-year-old stepbrother at a private residence. Six additional victims died inside the high school, bringing the total death toll to eight. Around 25 others sustained injuries.
Surviving students and teachers barricaded themselves in classrooms, hiding for more than two hours until police evacuated them.
Police Insights and Shooter Profile
Royal Canadian Mounted Police Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald stated that Van Rootselaar was born a biological male and began transitioning to female approximately six years ago, identifying as such. Initial alerts described the suspect as a “female in a dress,” prompting first responders to search accordingly.
Authorities had visited the family home multiple times in prior years due to concerns over the individual’s mental state. Weapons were previously seized from the property, though the registered owner legally reclaimed them. Officers recovered a long gun and a modified handgun at the school, raising questions about their origins.
Historical Context and Gun Law Changes
This incident ranks among Canada’s most tragic mass shootings, surpassed only by the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal, where 14 women were killed. In response to recent shootings, Canadian officials have strengthened firearms regulations, including expanded bans on assault-style weapons.
