8 Killed, Dozens Injured in Canada Mass Shooting

A mass shooter killed eight people and injured over 25 at both Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and a private residence in British Columbia on Tuesday.

The Details: The suspect, Jesse Van Rootselaar, allegedly killed five schoolchildren between the ages of 12 and 13, as well as a 39-year-old teacher. Jennifer and Emmett Strang, the suspect's 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old brother, were found dead at a nearby residence. The suspect, 18, also died from a presumed suicide. Law enforcement confirmed on Wednesday that Van Rootselaar, a biological man who began identifying as a woman about six years ago, had a history of mental illness. The suspect reportedly dropped out of Tumbler Ridge four years ago. Police reportedly conducted multiple wellness checks on Van Rootselaar, who was detained on one occasion, and previously seized firearms from the residence. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald said the suspect did not legally own any firearms but had a gun license that expired in 2024. 

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How The Media Covered It: The Daily Wire (Right bias), like many outlets on the right, homed in on the shooter's transgender identity and criticized law enforcement for delaying the release of Van Rootselaar's sex and identity. It emphasized reports that Van Rootselaar was wearing a dress during the attacks and said McDonald "used female pronouns for the attacker despite the fact that he was a male and repeatedly called him 'female.'" While Daily Wire used "he/him" pronouns to refer to Van Rootselaar, Associated Press (Left) used "she/her." Other outlets across the political spectrum, such as BBC (Center), avoided the gendered pronouns entirely. Both BBC and Associated Press reported that a motive was unconfirmed. 

National Post (Lean Right) alternatively analyzed a report that concluded, "mass shootings are committed almost entirely by men," despite a conservative media narrative that suggests otherwise. Associated Press choicely noted, "School shootings are rare in Canada, which has strict gun-control laws."

Other Media Coverage: YouTube and Reddit each removed an account allegedly associated with Van Rootselaar following the shooting. Posts from about ten years ago that appear to be by the suspect's mother began circulating online. One stated that he (presumably Van Rootselaar) had "a devious grin when he hur[t] his siblings" and said his school wanted him tested for a behavioral disorder. 

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