😔 The dark truth emerging in the Tumbler Ridge tragedy: Jesse Van Rootselaar not only ended lives but shattered her own family and a tight-knit town forever.

Behind the headlines: a childhood marked by an “almost nomadic lifestyle” with multiple moves across provinces, estrangement from her biological father, repeated police visits over mental health concerns, and family pleas for help that they say “the system failed.” Grandparents called it “the unimaginable,” struggling to reconcile the person they knew with the devastation caused.

The February 10, 2026, mass shooting in this isolated mountain community of about 2,400 residents claimed eight lives and injured dozens, marking one of Canada’s deadliest such incidents in recent decades. The perpetrator, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, killed her mother and half-brother at their family home before proceeding to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where she fatally shot five students and an educator before taking her own life.

Details emerging about Van Rootselaar’s family reveal a complex picture marked by frequent relocations, parental estrangement, and repeated interactions with authorities over mental health concerns. These elements have added layers of sorrow for relatives grappling with both loss and the actions of their loved one.

Van Rootselaar lived with her mother, Jennifer Jacobs (also known publicly as Jennifer Strang), 39, and 11-year-old half-brother Emmett Jacobs in a split-level home in Tumbler Ridge. Police confirmed Jacobs and Emmett were killed at the residence before the school attack. RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald described the sequence as the suspect first targeting family members, then moving to the school in what appeared to be a random assault rather than targeted individuals.

Jacobs was portrayed by family as “an incredible single mother of five with a truly generous heart and a deep love for her family.” In a statement from grandparents Adell and Russell Strang, provided to The Globe and Mail, she was remembered for her devotion amid challenges. The family acknowledged efforts to seek help for Van Rootselaar, including requests for interventions like electroconvulsive therapy, but stated “the system failed us.” They struggled to reconcile the teenager they knew—assigned male at birth and transitioning to female about six years prior—with the destruction caused, calling it “the unimaginable.”

Court records from a 2015 B.C. Supreme Court family law decision highlight a period of instability during Van Rootselaar’s childhood. Justice Anthony Saunders described the children as having led “an almost nomadic life,” with multiple moves between Newfoundland and Labrador, Grande Cache in Alberta, and Powell River, B.C., over five years following the parents’ separation around 2009. The ruling stemmed from a custody dispute between Jacobs (then using Strang) and biological father Justin Van Rootselaar. The judge noted Jacobs’ failure to provide proper notice for one relocation and attributed the father’s limited pursuit of rights partly to the family’s transience.

Justin Van Rootselaar issued a public statement expressing “deepest sympathy” to victims’ families and describing estrangement: “I was estranged from Jesse Strang and was not part of his life. His mother declined my involvement from the beginning, and I was not given the opportunity to be a part of raising him.” He referred to his child using different pronouns and a variant name, reflecting the family’s complexities. He emphasized carrying “a sorrow that is difficult to put into words” while mourning the community’s pain.

RCMP reported multiple visits to the family home over recent years, some related to mental health concerns involving Van Rootselaar, including self-harm risks. The most recent contact occurred in spring 2025. Authorities noted a prior firearms license held by Van Rootselaar had lapsed, and while firearms were seized from the residence about two years earlier, they were later returned. Police have stressed no motive has been determined, with investigations ongoing into online activity, mental health history, and other factors.

Van Rootselaar had dropped out of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School around four years prior. Reports indicate online posts touching on mental health struggles, substance use, and interest in weapons and violent content, though specifics remain under review. A gaming platform removed an account linked to her after discovering content simulating violence.

The tragedy has profoundly affected Tumbler Ridge, where residents describe knowing victims and the shooter’s family personally. Mayor Darryl Krakowka highlighted the interconnectedness: “We’re a small community.” Vigils, memorials with flowers and notes, and counseling services have mobilized. Prime Minister Mark Carney visited, and Premier David Eby offered provincial support.

Broader questions have arisen about mental health resources in rural areas, family court handling of nomadic lifestyles, firearms access amid documented concerns, and early intervention systems. Family statements underscore perceived gaps in support, while authorities continue emphasizing the investigation’s thoroughness.

For the surviving relatives—grandparents, siblings, and extended kin—the dual grief of losing loved ones to violence and grappling with the perpetrator’s identity persists. Jacobs’ portrayal as a loving single mother contrasts sharply with the outcome, leaving many to ponder paths not taken.

As funerals proceed and the community heals, the story of this family’s descent—from frequent moves and fractured parental ties to escalating mental health challenges—serves as a somber reminder of vulnerabilities in isolated settings. No motive has been confirmed, but the ripple effects endure in a town forever altered.

The RCMP urges tips for the ongoing probe, while support networks remain active for all impacted. In Tumbler Ridge, remembrance focuses on the victims’ lives and the hope that such devastation can spur meaningful change.