‘Jesse’s mother declined my involvement from beginning’: Father of Tumbler Ridge school shooter breaks silence on mass shooting, shares chilling details about his ‘biological’ son’s upbringing

The father of the Tumbler Ridge, B.C., school shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar broke his silence after the deadly mass shooting that rocked the small community. The incident occurred in the remote Canadian town in northeastern British Columbia on Tuesday (February 10, 2026), leaving nine people, including Rootselaar, dead. Jesse Van Rootselaar, who, according to family members, also went by Jesse Strang, as reported by CTV News.

Speaking about the fatal shooting incident, Justin Van Rootselaar, father of the 18-year-old, who is a resident of the northeastern B.C. community, said that the loss of life is “deeply personal.” He also said, “What has happened has left an ache in the heart of our town that will not soon fade.”

“There are moments when words feel far too small for the sorrow we are carrying together. What has happened has left an ache in the heart of our town that will not soon fade. In a place where we know each other by name, where we pass one another in the grocery store and gather at the same community events, this loss feels deeply personal to us all,” Justin Van Rootselaar was quoted as saying by Global News Canada.


Police revised the death toll down to nine from the initially reported 10, according to reports. Briefing about the fatal shooting incident, Dwayne McDonald, a deputy commissioner with the RCMP in British Columbia, said most of the victims were 12- or 13-year-old students killed in their school library, according to NYT News Service.

Expressing his heartfelt condolences towards all the families who lost their loved ones, Justin said that it's tough to imagine the depth of their grief. “To the families who have lost loved ones, and to every person who has been affected by this senseless and unforgivable act of violence, I offer my most heartfelt condolences. I cannot begin to imagine the depth of your grief. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers, and that I share in the profound sadness that has settled over our community,” he added.

Police also confirmed that Van Rootselaar was not attending Tumbler Ridge Secondary School at the time of the shooting and had dropped out approximately four years ago. Elaborating on the suspect, McDonald said that Van Rootselaar was biologically born male and began transitioning to female six years ago.

Justin Van Rootselaar asserted that he was not given the opportunity to be a part of raising Jesse. He also claimed that Jesse did not use the VanRootselaar family name at any point in his life.

“As the biological father of the individual responsible, I carry a sorrow that is difficult to put into words. I was estranged from Jesse Strang (Jesse Van Rootselaar) and was not part of his life. His mother declined my involvement from the beginning, and I was not given the opportunity to be a part of raising him. Jesse did not use the VanRootselaar family name at any point in his life. While that distance is the reality of our relationship, it does not lessen the heartbreak I feel for the pain that has been caused to innocent people and to the town we call home,” Justin Van Rootselaar said, as quoted by Global News Canada.

“This is a time for compassion, for holding one another close, and for supporting the families who are grieving such unimaginable loss. As we respect your grief, we respectfully ask that you also respect ours. There will be no further statements.” BC RCMP had earlier confirmed that multiple police visits had been made to the 18-year-old Jesse VanRootselaar’s home due to concerns of mental health and self-harm.