A father’s raw statement after his estranged child’s school rampage exposes ignored mental health cries and family fractures in a tight-knit town.
Story Snapshot
- Eight dead in Tumbler Ridge shooting: family killed at home, then five students and aide at school.
- Biological father Justin VanRootselaar breaks silence, reveals total estrangement and transgender child’s isolation.
- Police visited home multiple times for mental health alarms; seized guns returned years earlier.
- Main weapon’s source unknown, fueling questions on Canada’s firearm safeguards.
- Trans groups decry misinformation linking shooter’s identity to violence.
Shooting Unfolds in Remote Community
On February 11, 2026, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar killed mother Jennifer Jacobs and 11-year-old half-brother Emmett at their Tumbler Ridge home. Shooter then drove to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, murdering five students and an education assistant. Self-inflicted gunshot ended the spree. This northern British Columbia town of 2,500 souls reeled from the intimate losses. Everyone knew the victims and shooter by name.
Father Reveals Estrangement Details
Justin VanRootselaar released his statement February 13. He offered condolences to shattered families. Jesse’s mother rejected his involvement from the start. Father never participated in child’s life. Jesse never bore the VanRootselaar name. He urged respect for all grieving kin and vowed silence thereafter. Living locally, Justin grieves amid community agony. His words cut through shock, demanding privacy.
Police History Signals Missed Warnings
BC RCMP logged multiple visits to the home over mental health and self-harm risks. Two years before, officers seized firearms under Criminal Code. Lawful owner petitioned successfully; guns returned. Jesse dropped out of school four years prior, assigned male at birth but transitioning female. These red flags persisted unchecked. Commanding Officer Dwayne McDonald highlighted seizure limits—returns happen legally.
Weapons Probe Exposes Tracking Flaws
Investigators linked four firearms to the attack: two at school, two home. Primary rifle, causing most deaths, evaded prior seizure; origin unknown. Shotgun lacked registration. RCMP probes acquisition paths and home circumstances. Expert notes policy lag: courts focus on owners, not household threats. Common sense demands broader checks—returning guns to troubled homes risks lives. Facts align with tightening rules.
Misinformation Clashes with Reality
Trans advocacy groups flag the shooting sparking false narratives blaming transgender identity. They call it weaponized stigma against marginalized folks. Media notes pronoun gap: father used male terms, “Jesse Strang”; outlets respect self-ID as woman. Broader talks probe mental health failures, not identity. Conservative lens prioritizes warning signs over deflection—family breakdown and isolation fueled tragedy, not orientation.
Community Trauma and Policy Echoes
Tumbler Ridge mourns deeply; grocery runs and events now haunt survivors. Incident spotlights mental intervention gaps, gun policies, gender-violence links. Uncertainties linger: father’s relationship claims unverified, mental details sparse. RCMP presses on. This case tests Canada’s safeguards—ignored pleas demand accountability. Readers ponder: how many signs before action?
Sources:
Tumbler Ridge shooting fuels misinformation about trans people
Father of Tumbler Ridge, B.C. school shooter issues statement
‘Words feel far too small’: Tumbler Ridge shooting suspect’s father issues statement