The BC RCMP has confirmed that the suspect in the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting is, in fact, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, also known as Jesse Strang.This comes hours after the Western Standard verified his identity via residents in the northern BC town..In addition to naming Rootselaar, Cpl. Brett Urano revealed that nine people, not ten, had been killed. Earlier reports suggested one victim died en route to hospital, however it has since been noted that they are still alive.The deceased found at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School include a 39-year-old female educator, three 12-year-old female students, and two male students aged 12 and 13. A further two people, Van Rootselaar's 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old step-brother, were found at the family home. RCMP confirmed Van Rootselaar had been born a male and started to transition to female six years ago. Van Rootselaar referred to themselves on social as as a "she.".Uranso said when police were called to the scene at 1:20 pm. PST, responding offers were met with gunfire.When they entered the school, the found the bodies of the victims and the shooter, dead of a self-inflicted wound.Urano explained that the shooting at the home took place first, but that police were only notified after Van Rootselaar went to the school by a female who lived at the residence.Following the attack, officers discovered a long gun and a "modified handgun" reportedly used by Van Rootselaar..EXCLUSIVE: Suspect in Tumbler Ridge mass shooting identified by locals as 'trans'.Among those who confirmed to the Western Standard that Van Rootselaar was the shooter were Liam Irving and Juan van Heerden, both of whom grew up seeing him at school. They'd spoken with eight different people who were at Tumbler Ridge Secondary when the massacre took place."He was a couple of years younger than us grades wise," Irving explained. "He was a chill kid, he was alright, but he definitely gave off that, you know, quiet one out kind of kid ... Like, he wasn't, you know, destructive or obnoxious."Van Heerden echoed his sentiments, labelling Van Rootselaar "a quiet kid.""We always seen him by himself," he said, "sitting by himself in the corner, always quiet."Police said while Van Rootselaar had attened the school in past years, they weren't enrolled at the moment.
