A resurfaced video has intensified the horror surrounding the February 11, 2026, mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia, Canada, where 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar killed eight people — including her mother and 11-year-old stepbrother earlier that day — before turning the gun on herself. The footage, pulled from archived social media posts, shows Van Rootselaar calmly discharging a high-powered Desert Eagle handgun while wearing a black hoodie emblazoned with “massacre tour” in bold letters, a detail that now feels eerily prophetic.

The clip, believed to date from several months prior, captures Van Rootselaar in what appears to be a rural outdoor setting, possibly near her Tumbler Ridge home. She fires multiple rounds with steady hands, the powerful handgun’s recoil barely affecting her posture. The “massacre tour” text — a reference some link to dark internet culture or ironic band merch — is clearly visible across her chest. No audio accompanies the silent video, but the deliberate, almost practiced movements have left viewers and investigators disturbed. Authorities have not confirmed if the firearm in the clip is one of the two recovered at the scene: a long gun and a modified handgun used in the attacks.

Van Rootselaar, who police say identified as female publicly and on social media after beginning to transition about six years ago (born male), had a documented history of mental health struggles and police interactions. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) revealed multiple wellness checks at her home due to concerns, and she had previously held a firearms license that was later revoked or lapsed. Court documents and online traces indicate she dropped out of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School around four years earlier, yet returned armed on the day of the attack.

The rampage began at her family residence, where she fatally shot her 39-year-old mother, Jennifer Strang, and her 11-year-old stepbrother. She then drove to the school she once attended, entering during classes and opening fire primarily in the library area. Victims included five children, a 39-year-old female teacher, and others wounded in the chaos. Twenty-five people were injured, some critically, with reports of students barricading classrooms and a 12-year-old girl shot in the head while trying to lock a door to protect classmates.

The video’s emergence adds to a growing picture of Van Rootselaar’s online life. Posts on platforms like Roblox and other sites showed fixation on guns, violent extremism themes, and personal struggles with body image and identity. She expressed frustration about her 6-foot frame hindering her desire to appear “petite.” Family members, including her father, have issued statements expressing profound sorrow without speculating on motives.

RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald described the suspect as acting alone, with no evidence of accomplices or ideological manifesto recovered so far. The attacks rank as Canada’s deadliest school-related incident since the 1989 École Polytechnique massacre in Montreal, where 14 women were killed in an anti-feminist attack. It also ranks among the country’s worst mass shootings overall since the 2020 Nova Scotia rampage that claimed 22 lives.

Community response in Tumbler Ridge — a remote coal-mining town of about 2,400 — has been one of collective grief. Mourners built memorials with flowers, stuffed animals, and candles outside the school and family home. A silent procession drew hundreds, and vigils continue as funerals begin. Survivors recount hiding under desks, hearing gunfire echo through hallways, and texting desperate messages to parents: “I love you,” “Stuck inside.” One victim’s brother called his family from a utility room, whispering he was hiding and didn’t know his sister’s fate.

The “massacre tour” hoodie and pre-attack video have fueled online debates about warning signs, gun access, mental health support in rural areas, and social media’s role in amplifying dark fantasies. Critics question how firearms remained available despite prior police visits and license history. Mental health advocates call for better intervention in isolated communities, while gun control groups point to Canada’s relatively strict laws yet gaps in enforcement.

Police continue piecing together the timeline, analyzing devices for motives beyond personal grievances. No suicide note or clear manifesto has surfaced, leaving many questions unanswered. For the grieving families — parents burying children who should have been safe at school — the video serves as a grim reminder of missed opportunities to intervene.

As Tumbler Ridge heals, the chilling image of Van Rootselaar firing that gun — clad in a shirt proclaiming “massacre” — lingers as a haunting prelude to tragedy. It underscores the thin line between troubled thoughts and irreversible action, and the urgent need to recognize cries for help before they turn deadly.