The teenage suspect in a mass shooting in rural British Columbia had been the subject of a number of police visits in recent years because of mental health issues, authorities say. Police say the 18-year-old - who was found dead on the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound - killed eight people, including six children, in Tuesday's attack in Tumbler Ridge.
Jesse Van Rootselaar had previously been apprehended and assessed under the Mental Health Act and used to have a firearms licence. It is unclear who owned the guns used in the attack or what the motive was. Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that he intends to visit the grieving community in the coming days.
British Columbia proclaimed Thursday as a day of mourning throughout the province in light of this tragedy. The victims included five students aged 12 to 13 and a 39-year-old teacher, with at least 25 others injured at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Two additional fatalities were also confirmed, including the suspect's mother and step-brother.
Mourners gathered in Tumbler Ridge, with flags at half-mast, and laid tributes of flowers and teddy bears at a growing memorial. Shelley Quist, a local resident, expressed the intensified emotions of the community, stating, 'It doesn't happen here. It doesn't happen in Canada.' The shooting incident has left many residents feeling shocked, angry, and sorrowful as they grapple with the impact and reality of such violence in their close-knit community.
In light of the incident, RCMP officials revealed there had been a history of police visits to Van Rootselaar's home due to ongoing mental health struggles. Premier David Eby indicated that they would be collaborating with healthcare officials to examine the interactions that had previously taken place.
Notably, two firearms were recovered at the scene—an inquiry into how the suspect obtained these weapons continues, especially since guns had been seized from the household a couple of years prior. Meanwhile, residents and officials are left with profound questions about community safety and mental health support in the wake of this tragic event.
Jesse Van Rootselaar had previously been apprehended and assessed under the Mental Health Act and used to have a firearms licence. It is unclear who owned the guns used in the attack or what the motive was. Prime Minister Mark Carney has announced that he intends to visit the grieving community in the coming days.
British Columbia proclaimed Thursday as a day of mourning throughout the province in light of this tragedy. The victims included five students aged 12 to 13 and a 39-year-old teacher, with at least 25 others injured at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Two additional fatalities were also confirmed, including the suspect's mother and step-brother.
Mourners gathered in Tumbler Ridge, with flags at half-mast, and laid tributes of flowers and teddy bears at a growing memorial. Shelley Quist, a local resident, expressed the intensified emotions of the community, stating, 'It doesn't happen here. It doesn't happen in Canada.' The shooting incident has left many residents feeling shocked, angry, and sorrowful as they grapple with the impact and reality of such violence in their close-knit community.
In light of the incident, RCMP officials revealed there had been a history of police visits to Van Rootselaar's home due to ongoing mental health struggles. Premier David Eby indicated that they would be collaborating with healthcare officials to examine the interactions that had previously taken place.
Notably, two firearms were recovered at the scene—an inquiry into how the suspect obtained these weapons continues, especially since guns had been seized from the household a couple of years prior. Meanwhile, residents and officials are left with profound questions about community safety and mental health support in the wake of this tragic event.
