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Eight killed in Tumbler Ridge shootings
Eight people died and 27 were injured in two separate attacks on Tuesday in Tumbler Ridge, a small town of 3,000 in British Columbia's Rocky Mountains. Police confirmed the shootings occurred at a local residence and Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.
Victims identified
Among the dead is Jennifer Strang, 39, the mother of 18-year-old suspect Jesse van Rootselaar. Strang and her 11-year-old son-van Rootselaar's stepbrother-were found dead at a home, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Court records from 2015 reveal Strang and her children had lived a transient life, moving between Newfoundland, Grand Cache, and Powell River over five years. A judge later ordered her to return to British Columbia with the children.
School casualties
Four students and a teacher were killed at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. The victims include two 12-year-old girls, two boys aged 12 and 13, and a 39-year-old female teacher.
Kylie Smith, 12, was one of the students killed. Her family told CTV she was a "beautiful soul" who loved art and anime. "She was the light of her family," they said. Her father, Lance Young, added, "We just loved her so much."
Community in shock
With nearly 3,000 residents, Tumbler Ridge is reeling from the attacks, as many locals likely knew at least one victim. Police continue to investigate the motive behind the shootings.
