BREAKING 18-Year-Old Transgender Suspect in One of Canada's Deadliest Mass Shootings Leaving 9 Dead - Bishop Calls for Prayer
On February 10, 2026, two attacks occurred in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada. A lone attacker killed two people at a private residence before killing six others at the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, including five students aged 12–13 and one teacher. The perpetrator then died by suicide at the school. Twenty-seven others were injured. The shooter, initially described by the RCMP as "a female in a dress with brown hair", was later identified by RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald as 18-year-old Jesse van
Rootselaar of Tumbler Ridge. The shooter was described by law enforcement as being assigned male at birth but transitioned 6 years before the shooting.
The Holy Cross Mission, parish priest wrote, Dear Families and Friends, It is with a heavy heart that I extend my deepest condolences to all those affected by the tragic events in Tumbler Ridge. Words cannot fully express the sorrow and grief that such a loss brings. Please know that our prayers are with you in this time of mourning. May God, in His infinite mercy, bring comfort to your hearts, give strength to endure this pain, and grant eternal peace to those who have passed. We stand with you as a community in prayer and support, trusting in God’s love to carry us through even the darkest moments. In Christ’s compassion, Fr. Jeevan Bandhanadham
Archbishop Richard Smith of the Archdiocese of Vancouver wrote - I was deeply saddened to learn of yesterday’s tragic violence in Tumbler Ridge, BC. Together with everyone in the Archdiocese of Vancouver, I offer my prayers for all who have lost loved ones and for the entire community in mourning. In this time of grief, may the Lord draw close to those who suffer and grant strength to all who care for them. Let us join together in prayer for peace and healing in our province.
Rootselaar of Tumbler Ridge. The shooter was described by law enforcement as being assigned male at birth but transitioned 6 years before the shooting."The unimaginable tragedy that struck the community of Tumbler Ridge yesterday has traumatized us all," local Bishop Stephen Jensen of Prince George, said in a statement released Wednesday morning.
About: Tumbler Ridge, a northeastern B.C. community of about 2,500 people, is located roughly 400 kilometres northeast of Prince George within the Diocese of Prince George. The town has one Catholic parish, Holy Cross Mission, served by Our Lady of Peace Parish in Chetwynd, about an hour northwest.
The incident was the deadliest mass shooting in Canada since the 2020 Nova Scotia attacks, and the deadliest school shooting in Canada since the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre.The Holy Cross Mission, parish priest wrote, Dear Families and Friends, It is with a heavy heart that I extend my deepest condolences to all those affected by the tragic events in Tumbler Ridge. Words cannot fully express the sorrow and grief that such a loss brings. Please know that our prayers are with you in this time of mourning. May God, in His infinite mercy, bring comfort to your hearts, give strength to endure this pain, and grant eternal peace to those who have passed. We stand with you as a community in prayer and support, trusting in God’s love to carry us through even the darkest moments. In Christ’s compassion, Fr. Jeevan Bandhanadham
Archbishop Richard Smith of the Archdiocese of Vancouver wrote - I was deeply saddened to learn of yesterday’s tragic violence in Tumbler Ridge, BC. Together with everyone in the Archdiocese of Vancouver, I offer my prayers for all who have lost loved ones and for the entire community in mourning. In this time of grief, may the Lord draw close to those who suffer and grant strength to all who care for them. Let us join together in prayer for peace and healing in our province.
Tumbler Ridge Secondary School is a public secondary school having 175 students from grades 7 to 12.
After the shooting, Tumbler Ridge councillor Chris Norbury described the community as "an incredibly safe community... we don't have to worry about crime here.
The perpetrator killed 8 victims, before dying from a self-inflicted wound. Six victims were found dead inside the school.
The deceased victims at the school were identified as "a 39-year-old female educator", plus three female students and two male students, all aged 12 or 13. Two victims were found dead at a residence in Tumbler Ridge. On February 11, RCMP confirmed that they were the suspect's mother and step-brother, aged 39 and 11 respectively, and that they had been shot before the suspect attacked the school. Twenty-seven other people were also treated for injuries, including two with serious injuries.
Rootselaar had a history of poor mental health and police had responded several times previously for "mental health-related calls".
FULL TEXT by Bishop Stephen Gensen: On the Tragedy in Tumbler Ridge
“One week from today we begin the season of Lent, a time for more intense prayer and penance – personal sacrifice – to beg God’s healing grace for our lives and for the world. The unimaginable tragedy that struck the community of Tumbler Ridge yesterday has traumatized us all.
“One week from today we begin the season of Lent, a time for more intense prayer and penance – personal sacrifice – to beg God’s healing grace for our lives and for the world. The unimaginable tragedy that struck the community of Tumbler Ridge yesterday has traumatized us all.
The most effective response we can offer for the intentions of the dead and the survivors, their families, the emergency responders, the parish community and town, is our own prayer and penance. In the providence of God, those are the tools entrusted to us that we can use to address suffering and help bring mercy and healing to all.
Today is the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. In the words of the familiar prayer, we turn to her “mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.” May we all unite our prayers to our Lady’s intercession to ask for God’s presence and mercy in our suffering world.
Bishop Stephen Jensen February 11, 2026.”
https://www.catholicregister.org/item/3453-prince-george-bishop-calls-for-prayer-penance-saying-tumbler-ridge-shooting-has-traumatized-us-all
Archdiocese of Vancouver - Facebook Page
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Tumbler_Ridge_shooting
https://bccatholic.ca/news/catholic-van/prince-george-bishop-calls-for-prayer-penance-saying-tumbler-ridge-shooting-has-traumatized-us-all
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