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 was the motive. Prime Minister Mark Carney has said he will visit the mountain town in the coming days. British Columbia, in western Canada, proclaimed Thursday a day of mourning across the province. Five students aged 12 to 13 and a 39-year-old teacher were killed and at least 25 others were injured at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Two others - the suspect's mother, also 39, and 11-year-old step-brother - were found dead at a nearby home, where the attack began. Two young victims remain in hospital in a critical but stable condition. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said on Wednesday there was a history of visiting Van Rootselaar's family home in the past several years because of the suspect's mental health struggles. British Columbia Premier David Eby told a news conference that they were in contact with the public healthcare system officials to understand what interactions may have taken place. Van Rootselaar was born a biological male but identified as a female, according to authorities. Tumbler Ridge, home to about 2,400 residents, saw its secondary school suffer a tragic incident, with the primary school population being just 160 students. The RCMP stated that guns were present in the suspect's home, which were seized by police about two years prior; however, firearms were later returned to the family upon petition. At the scene of the shooting, authorities recovered a long gun and a modified handgun but are still investigating how the suspect acquired these weapons. A Facebook post from 2021 highlights an interest in firearms from the suspect's mother, while a relative also shared an image of the suspect with a hunting rifle. Following the shooting, hundreds gathered in Tumbler Ridge for a moment of silence, reflecting the community’s grief over the loss of life and the ongoing impact of this tragedy.