Canada school shooting revealed: transgender woman opens fire at school after killing mother and brother

Toronto (The Uttam Hindu): A deeply disturbing incident has come to light from Tumbler Ridge in Canada’s British Columbia province. An 18-year-old transgender woman allegedly shot dead her mother and her 11-year-old stepbrother before carrying out a deadly shooting at a school. After the attack, she reportedly shot herself.

According to news agency AFP, police commander Dwayne McDonald said the accused, identified as Jesse Van Rootslar, was a transgender woman who had dropped out of high school four years ago. She previously held a firearm licence, which had expired. Police said weapons had earlier been seized from her home but were later returned.

Police also stated that there had been ongoing concerns regarding the accused’s mental health. She had been assessed multiple times under the provincial Mental Health Act. McDonald said police had visited the family home on several occasions in recent years to deal with issues related to her mental condition.

After killing her mother and stepbrother, the accused went to the same school where she had studied four years earlier and opened fire. In the shooting, 24 other people were injured.

Police found six bodies inside the school premises. The victims included a 39-year-old female teacher and five students. Among the students were three 12-year-old girls and two boys aged 12 and 13.

So far, police have not disclosed the motive behind the attack. Officials said there is no information at present suggesting that any specific individual was deliberately targeted.

Authorities stated that this is the deadliest violent attack in Canada since 2020. In that year, a gunman in Nova Scotia killed 13 people, while nine others died in related arson incidents. Police are continuing a detailed investigation into the case.