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Tumbler Ridge Tragedy: Families grieve young victims
The mass shooting on Tuesday in Tumbler Ridge was among the deadliest attacks in Canada's history
Tuesday’s mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, has left nine people dead and 25 others injured, marking one of the deadliest attacks in Canadian history.
The victims, ranging in age from 11 to 39, were mostly young, leaving families and communities grappling with sudden, unimaginable loss.
Among those killed were 12-year-olds Abel Mwansa Jr. and Kylie May Smith, and 13-year-old Eziekiel Schofield.
“The tears just keep flowing. So many young lives were ended so needlessly,” Schofield’s grandfather, Peter Schofield, wrote on social media.
The shooting began at the home of 18-year-old suspect Jesse van Rootselaar, where she killed her 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother.
She then traveled to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, opening fire in a stairwell and the library, where six more people were killed. Twelve-year-old Maya Gebala was reportedly shot while attempting to lock the library door to protect classmates. Police said van Rootselaar later died from a self-inflicted injury before officers could reach her.
RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald described the victims as “quite young” and acknowledged the profound shock for a country with strict gun laws and little history of mass violence. Investigators continue to search for a possible motive.
Abel Mwansa Jr.’s father shared on Facebook that his son had loved going to school and dreamed of a future as an engineer or scientist. “Seeing your child murdered at this age is heartbreaking,” he wrote.
Eziekiel Schofield’s family confirmed his death in a social media post, expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support while mourning the loss.
Community members have organized gatherings to support one another and honor the young hockey player’s memory.
Kylie May Smith’s aunt described her niece as a “beautiful, kind, innocent soul” in a GoFundMe tribute, sharing that the family was struggling to process the magnitude of the tragedy.
Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the nation on Wednesday, saying, “Parents, grandparents, sisters, brothers in Tumbler Ridge will wake up without someone they love. The nation mourns with you, and Canada stands by you.”