🚨 BREAKING: The Canada school massacre that shocked the world… but what authorities HID from the public for years is now exploding into view. 😱

An 18-year-old walked into a quiet BC town, gunned down her own mother and little brother, then stormed her former high school — k!lling kids and a teacher in cold blood before turning the gun on herself. Eight innocent lives gone. Families shattered. A community in ruins.

But here’s the bombshell buried in the reports: This shooter had severe mental health struggles for YEARS…

Yet instead of tackling the deep-rooted psychiatric issues head-on with intensive therapy or long-term care… he was given only hormone blockers and gender transition treatments starting as young as 12.

Read more:

The remote mining town of Tumbler Ridge, nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, became the site of Canada’s deadliest school-related attack in decades on February 10, 2026, when 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar carried out a rampage that claimed eight lives, including her own.

Authorities identified Van Rootselaar as the perpetrator who first fatally shot her 39-year-old mother, Jennifer Strang, and 11-year-old half-brother at their family home before walking approximately 10 minutes to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. There, the teen opened fire, killing five students and one teacher before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Twenty-five others were injured in the assault, which police described as involving random targeting rather than specific victims.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have yet to release an official motive, but the case has drawn intense scrutiny due to Van Rootselaar’s documented history of mental health concerns, repeated police interactions, and gender transition that began around age 12. Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald of the BC RCMP confirmed at a February 11 press conference that Van Rootselaar, born male, had identified as female for about six years and was using her chosen name.

Police records show multiple visits to the family residence over recent years, primarily related to mental health crises and self-harm risks. On at least some occasions, Van Rootselaar was apprehended under British Columbia’s Mental Health Act for assessment and follow-up care. The most recent known interaction occurred in the spring of 2025, prompted by concerns over mental health and potential self-harm. Local health authorities confirmed the teen was not receiving inpatient treatment at the time of the shootings.

Firearms also factored into the family’s history with law enforcement. Roughly two years prior to the attack, officers seized weapons from the home under provisions of the Criminal Code, though they were later returned after a petition by the lawful owner — whose identity was not specified. Van Rootselaar held a firearms license that expired in 2024. At the scene, investigators recovered four firearms connected to the incidents: two at the school and two at the residence.

Social media archives, verified by multiple outlets including CNN and The Telegraph, paint a picture of a troubled adolescent. Posts on platforms like Reddit and YouTube discussed struggles with suicidal ideation, substance use, video game immersion, and enthusiasm for hunting and firearms. In one 2023 recording, the teen described owning multiple guns while identifying as transgender. Other entries referenced waiting lists for hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and questions about physical suitability for such treatment, including concerns over height and body frame in pursuit of a “petite” appearance.

Van Rootselaar had dropped out of school about four years earlier, around age 14, and lived in a small household with her mother and siblings. Neighbors and community members described a household where concerns about gun access and erratic behavior were known but not fully addressed. One resident told reporters the teen had previously set a fire in the home in 2023 while under the influence of drugs, an incident that added to the pattern of instability.

The estranged biological father, Justin Van Rootselaar, issued a public statement expressing profound sorrow while noting he had been excluded from his child’s life since early on. “I carry a sorrow that is difficult to put into words,” he wrote, emphasizing he had no role in raising the individual and was estranged from the mother.

Questions have arisen about the intersection of Van Rootselaar’s mental health history and gender-affirming care. Police confirmed the transition process began around six years prior, aligning with puberty blocker or early hormone intervention possibilities under Canadian guidelines, which allow such treatments for minors with gender dysphoria after assessments. However, no public records specify whether puberty blockers were administered or if hormone therapy was actively ongoing at the time of the attack.

Critics, including some online commentators and columnists, have pointed to broader debates over youth gender care in Canada. Reports from outlets like National Post have highlighted concerns that puberty blockers may “lock in” gender identities for many adolescents, with high progression rates to cross-sex hormones. Some specialists have called for more cautious approaches, citing potential impacts on brain development and the need for thorough psychiatric evaluation before medical steps.

In this case, the emphasis appears to have been on mental health interventions through short-term apprehensions rather than sustained, comprehensive treatment for underlying conditions. Online posts reportedly described violent content as “addictive,” alongside ongoing battles with depression and identity struggles. Whether these factors contributed to the violence remains speculative, as investigators continue analyzing digital evidence, witness statements, and forensic details.

The tragedy ranks as Canada’s worst mass shooting since the 2020 Nova Scotia attacks and its deadliest school-linked incident since the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal. It has reignited national conversations about gun access — particularly in rural areas with hunting traditions — mental health resource allocation, and youth firearm licensing.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other officials expressed condolences, with calls for renewed focus on school safety and crisis intervention. Gun control advocates noted the expired license and prior seizures as areas for tighter enforcement, while others emphasized the failures in addressing chronic mental illness.

As Tumbler Ridge mourns, with vigils and community support pouring in for victims’ families, the case underscores systemic challenges. Police described the suspect as “hunting” rather than targeting individuals, a chilling detail that has left residents questioning how such warning signs accumulated without decisive, long-term intervention.

Investigators stress the motive probe is ongoing, with no conclusions yet drawn. What is clear is a young life marked by repeated cries for help — from police visits to online pleas — that ended in unimaginable violence. For the families of the eight killed and dozens injured, answers may come slowly, if at all.