A small, isolated community in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada, experienced an unspeakable tragedy on Tuesday when a shooting left eight dead and more than 20 injured.

Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Dwayne McDonald, announced that the perpetrator was identified as 18-year-old trans teen Jesse Van Ruitelaar, who was found dead inside the local high school.

According to authorities, two people were initially killed at a residence on Fellers Street: the 18-year-old’s mother, 39-year-old Jennifer Strang, and his 11-year-old half-brother.

The perpetrator then went to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, about two kilometers away, where he shot and killed six more people before turning the gun on himself. Among the dead were a 39-year-old teacher, three 12-year-old female students, and two male students aged 12 and 13. Two additional victims, a 12-year-old girl and a 19-year-old, were airlifted to a hospital and remain in critical condition, while about 25 others sustained injuries.

Had Dropped Out of School Four Years Ago

Police clarified that Van Ruitelaar had dropped out of school four years ago and was not a student at the time of the attack. Authorities continue to notify relatives of the victims, and the public release of information will depend on the families.

The small town, with roughly 2,400 residents and located about 660 kilometers northeast of Vancouver, is in shock. Pastor George Row described the community as “very tight-knit,” saying that everyone experiences the tragedy as if it involved a family member. City councilor Chris Norbury, whose wife teaches at the school and is safe, said he personally knew all the victims: “I watched them grow up… and the fact that we will never see them again is almost unbearable.”

The 18-Year-Old Faced Mental Health Challenges

Investigations are now focusing on the circumstances leading up to the attack. Police reported that the family home had been the subject of repeated interventions over the past two years due to mental health and weapons issues. In some cases, the 18-year-old had been taken to a hospital under mental health legislation for assessment. Firearms had been seized from the home two years ago under the Criminal Code but were later returned to the lawful owner at his request.

Two guns were found at the school—a long gun and a modified pistol—which were not registered to the perpetrator. Authorities confirmed he had held a minor’s firearms license, which expired in 2024. In Canada, individuals aged 12 to 17 can obtain such a license for limited use of non-prohibited firearms, such as for training or hunting.

Began Gender Transition Six Years Ago

Police stated that the perpetrator was identified according to how he publicly and on social media identified himself, that is as a “female”. He was biologically male at birth but began a gender transition about six years ago and lived as a woman. There is no evidence that he had been bullied at school because of this, and no note or message revealing a motive has been found.

An earlier family court case shows that the family had moved repeatedly between Canadian provinces. A 2015 court decision noted that the children lived almost a nomadic life, moving between Newfoundland, Grand Cache, and Powell River. At that time, the mother wanted to transfer the children to Newfoundland to attend school there, citing the need for family support.

Posts by relatives on social media in previous years showed a close-knit family celebrating achievements and birthdays. In a 2021 post, the mother mentioned that Jesse was interested in firearms, referring to a YouTube channel where he posted content about hunting, self-reliance, and equipment.

Authorities continue to investigate the full history of the case and the sequence of events, while a clear motive for the attack has not yet been determined.