Nine people, including the suspect, died in a shooting at a high school and a private residence in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, in what is being called one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canadian history. The suspect was identified as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, a local resident, according to Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, as reported by The Guardian. The tragedy unfolded at the high school and at the suspect's family home, leaving dozens injured, with some in critical condition.
The initial reports indicated a higher death toll, but the number was revised down after a female victim with significant injuries survived, according to The Guardian. The deceased at the suspect's family residence included the suspect's mother and step-brother. Police were called to the home after being alerted to the school shooting by a female youth related to the suspect and victims, The Guardian reported. Those killed at the school included a 39-year-old teacher and three 12-year-old female students.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) took up positions outside the home where additional bodies were found, as shown in photographs published by The Guardian. The shooting has shocked the community of Tumbler Ridge, a small town in British Columbia. "Their grief, in the face of this catastrophic loss, will be accompanied by the desperate need for an explanation," according to John Sparks, International correspondent for Sky News.
The incident has prompted a wave of shock and grief across Canada, a country where mass shootings are less common than in the United States, as noted by Sky News. The premier of British Columbia, David Eby, struggled to find the right words when addressing the media, reflecting the profound impact of the tragedy, according to Sky News.
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