Police cordoned off a home in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., where two people were discovered dead. Investigators say the deaths at the residence appear to be linked to a mass shooting that also left several people dead at a nearby high school. The Globe & Mail
A quiet community in northeastern British Columbia continues to grapple with grief and disbelief after a deadly shooting at a high school in Tumbler Ridge left eight people dead, including members of the shooter’s own family.
Police identified the 18-year-old suspect as Jesse Van Rootselaar. Authorities said the teen opened fire on Tuesday afternoon before taking her own life. Among those killed were her mother, Jennifer Strang, and a younger sibling.
Troubled Years Before the Attack
People who knew the family described years of personal and mental health struggles leading up to the tragedy.
Several years ago, Jesse reportedly experienced serious mental health episodes. Friends and relatives said she received psychiatric care more than once. Police confirmed officers visited the family home multiple times over the years in response to mental health concerns. They apprehended her under the provincial Mental Health Act on more than one occasion for assessment.
In late 2023, Jesse set fire to a bed inside the family home after ingesting psychedelic mushrooms, according to people familiar with the situation. A family friend recalled that the teen “was hallucinating real bad,” describing details previously shared by her mother.
Social media posts linked to an account believed to belong to Jesse described struggles with depression, autism spectrum disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and substance use. In one post, she wrote about feeling overwhelmed and expressed distress over delays in receiving hormone replacement therapy.
Police have not shared a motive for the shooting.
Firearms and Police History
RCMP said Jesse once held a firearms licence, which expired in 2024. Officers stated no guns were registered in her name. Investigators have not confirmed who owned the firearms used in the attack or how she obtained them.
Police had previously seized firearms from the family home several years ago, but a family member successfully applied to have them returned. A relative said the guns were given back about a month before the shooting.
Family Struggles
Court records and interviews reveal a family that faced significant challenges over the years. Jennifer Strang, who also used the name Jennifer Jacobs, grew up in Newfoundland before moving west. She raised five children and moved frequently.
A B.C. Supreme Court ruling from 2015 described her lifestyle as “an almost nomadic life.” A judge ordered her to return to British Columbia after she relocated to Newfoundland with her children following a separation from their father.
Later, the family settled in Tumbler Ridge. Strang worked as a haul truck driver and drill trainee at a coal mine. A workplace injury placed her on short-term disability, and she later lost her job, according to a friend.
Those close to the family said Jesse stopped attending school several years ago and faced increasing mental health challenges.
“She was very, very mixed-up,” one relative said. “A lot of mental health issues.”
Community in Mourning
Residents in Tumbler Ridge have struggled to comprehend the violence in their close-knit town.
“It just doesn’t seem real,” said Bernie Lehmann, a carpenter who has previously worked at the high school where most of the deaths occurred. “The big question, obviously, is why? It’s just – I don’t know. It’s hard to believe.”
Authorities confirmed Jesse had received psychiatric treatment in Prince George, located roughly 400 kilometres from Tumbler Ridge. The provincial health ministry said she was not under extended mental health supervision at the time of the incident.
The shooting ranks among the deadliest in modern Canadian history. As investigations continue, residents gather to mourn the victims and support one another through an unimaginable loss.
