B.C. Tragedy: Innocent Lives STOLEN
A former student with a troubled past unleashed Canada’s deadliest mass shooting ever, slaughtering innocent children and a devoted teacher in a tight-knit community that now reels from unimaginable loss.
Story Snapshot
- Nine killed, including six at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School—five children aged 12-13 and education assistant Shannda Aviugana-Durand, 39.
- Shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, killed her mother and stepbrother at home before attacking the school, then took her own life.
- Deadliest mass shooting in Canadian history with 36 total casualties, surpassing 2020 Nova Scotia attacks.
- RCMP confirmed lone gunman; weapons included a long gun and modified handgun; no manifesto found.
- Small B.C. town devastated; first responders hailed for rushing into gunfire to save lives.
Tragic Timeline Unfolds in Tumbler Ridge
On February 10, 2026, before 2:20 p.m. MST, Jesse Van Rootselaar, an 18-year-old dropout, murdered her mother Jennifer Jacobs, 39, and stepbrother Emmett Jacobs, 11, at their Fellers Avenue residence. She then traveled 1.5 kilometers to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. RCMP received the active shooter alert at 2:20 p.m. Students triggered alarms, barricaded doors with tables, and sheltered in place as gunfire echoed through the halls. This small British Columbia community of families and workers faced horror no one saw coming.
It is with sadness that we share an update from the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School shooting. We are grieving the profound loss of one of our union members whose life was taken in this terrible event. Shannda Aviugana-Durand, 39, was a member of the BCGEU and worked at Tumbler… pic.twitter.com/330RquuCdT
— BCGEU (@bcgeu) February 12, 2026
Innocent Victims Shatter Community Hearts
At the school, Van Rootselaar killed six: education assistant Shannda Aviugana-Durand, 39, remembered as a “beautiful, kind innocent soul,” and children Zoey Benoit, 12; Ticaria Lampert, 12; Abel Mwansa Jr., 12; Ezekiel Schofield, 13; and Kylie Smith, 12. Families describe these youngsters as joyful lights now extinguished. One victim was briefly reported dead but survived en route to hospital. Twenty-seven others suffered injuries; two—a 19-year-old woman and 12-year-old girl—were airlifted to Vancouver’s BC Children’s Hospital. The close bonds of Tumbler Ridge amplify this grief.
Shooter’s Troubled Path and Warning Signs
Van Rootselaar dropped out four years earlier amid family chaos, including custody battles between 2010-2015 and estrangement from her father. She never used his surname. Her TikTok reposted videos of the 2023 Nashville Christian school shooting by a transgender perpetrator, hinting at fixation on prior violence. No bullying history or school grudges reported. RCMP arrived within two minutes, confirmed she acted alone, recovered a long gun and modified handgun, and found no suicide note. First responders charged into active fire, exemplifying true heroism.
Prime Minister Mark Carney mourned: “Parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers in Tumbler Ridge will wake up without someone they love. The nation mourns with you.” RCMP Superintendent Ken Floyd praised responders’ courage. By 3:15 p.m., Alert Ready urged sheltering; lifted at 6:45 p.m. As President Trump secures America’s borders against chaos, Canadians grapple with this homegrown nightmare—reminding us strong families and swift justice prevent such breakdowns.
Historical Weight and Lasting Scars
This surpasses the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre (14 dead) as Canada’s worst school shooting and eclipses 2020 Nova Scotia as deadliest mass killing with 36 casualties total. Short-term, schools locked down, trauma airlifts from Alberta mobilized, families shattered. Long-term, expect gun control pushes, mental health debates, safety upgrades—yet root causes like family instability persist. Indigenous-named victims highlight broad pain. Tumbler Ridge, built on resilience, now needs support to heal while honoring these patriots’ memory against senseless evil.
America under Trump rejects such disorder through family values, border strength, and Second Amendment protections—lessons Canada ignores at its peril. Communities like this demand vigilance against threats eroding innocence.
Sources:
2026 Tumbler Ridge shooting – Wikipedia