The father of Jesse Van Rootselaar, the 18-year-old responsible for a tragic shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, has publicly distanced himself from his son. In a statement to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Justin Van Rootselaar asserted he was estranged from his son and emphasized his lack of involvement in Jesse’s life. This announcement comes after the shooting on March 5, 2024, which left eight people dead, including six children.
In his statement, Justin referred to his son using male pronouns and the last name of Jesse’s mother, Jennifer Strang, who was among the victims. “I was estranged from Jesse Strang and was not part of his life,” he stated. He indicated that Jennifer had declined his involvement from the outset, preventing him from participating in Jesse’s upbringing. “Jesse did not use the [Van Rootselaar] family name at any point in his life,” he added.
The incident began at their family home, where Jesse fatally shot his 39-year-old mother and 11-year-old stepbrother. He then proceeded to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where he opened fire, killing five young students and a teacher before taking his own life. Authorities recovered a long gun and a modified handgun at the scene.
According to Royal Canadian Mounted Police Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, Jesse was born biologically male and had begun transitioning to female approximately six years ago. McDonald noted that the police had visited the family home multiple times due to concerns regarding Jesse’s mental health. Over the years, he had been taken into custody for assessment under Canada’s Mental Health Act on several occasions.
In light of this devastating event, Justin Van Rootselaar expressed his sorrow for the victims and the community’s pain. “This is a time for compassion, for holding one another close, and for supporting the families who are grieving such unimaginable loss,” he said. He requested respect for both the victims’ families and his own, stating, “As we respect your grief, we respectfully ask that you also respect ours.” He concluded by indicating there would be no further statements.
The tragedy has left the small community of Tumbler Ridge in shock, grappling with the aftermath of such a violent act. As investigations continue, the impact of this event is expected to resonate deeply within the community and beyond.
