<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The suspected killer who shot dead at least eight people in a high school mass shooting that has horrified </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/canada" rel="" target="_blank" title="Canada"><span>Canada</span></a><span> has been identified as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, police have said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At a press conference early this morning (Australia time), British Columbia Royal Canadian Mounted Police (BC RCMP) Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald confirmed police believed Van Rootselaar, a resident of the small town of Tumbler Ridge, had carried out the country's worst mass shooting in years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The death toll was revised down from nine this morning, after police revealed one of the victims previously believed to have died on route to hospital had in fact survived.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/james-van-der-beek-actor-dies-age-48/0e69f5eb-5943-4fc1-86d3-2f7eed253726" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Actor James Van Der Beek dies aged 48</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than 25 people were wounded in the attack in the small mountain community, including two with life-threatening injuries who were airlifted for medical care, police said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The village of 2700 people in the Canadian Rockies is more than 1000km north-east of Vancouver, near the provincial border with Alberta.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>British Columbia Premier David Eby told reporters that police reached the school within two minutes.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/tumbler-ridge-shooting-multiple-people-dead-high-school-mass-shooting/17343a45-b3c8-4a65-ad71-7d4d4ee85fd6" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/jeffrey-epstein-files-uk-prosecutors-speak-with-police-over-former-prince-andrew-mountbattenwindsors-epstein-links/b44f581f-7180-4aaa-a5da-98e9f43dcaf6" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>UK prosecutors speak with police over former prince Andrew's Epstein links</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A video showed students walking out with their hands raised as police vehicles surrounded the building and a helicopter circled overhead.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police found six people dead, RCMP Superintendent Ken Floyd said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Van Rootselaar was also found dead of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot wound.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two more were found dead at a residence that authorities believe was connected to the attack.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/person-in-custody-over-missing-woman-nancy-guthrie-case/bd95b61d-c010-45df-9aec-2338bb65496c" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Person detained, home searched over Nancy Guthrie's disappearance</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police have since revealed that Van Roostelaar's mother and step-brother were the two victims found in the residence.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The deceased victims from the school include an adult female educator, three female students and two male students between the ages of 13 and 17," McDonald said at this morning's press conference.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said the suspect was known to police, who had visited the family's home on mental health-related calls.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/north-korea-executing-residents-for-watching-south-korean-tv-shows-and-listening-to-kpop-according-to-amnesty-international/5c3a9af5-3594-4152-886f-5b9a18d44648" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>North Korea executing people for watching Squid Game, report claims</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Police have attended that residence in the past, approximately a couple of years ago, where firearms were seized under the Criminal Code," McDonald said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I can say that at a later point in time, the lawful owner of those firearms petitioned for those firearms to be returned, and they were."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It's not known what gun or guns were used in the shooting. McDonald said Van Roostelaar's gun licence had expired in 2024 and she had no firearms registered in her name.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>McDonald said the motive was also unknown at this early stage.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We do believe the suspect acted alone, and there are currently no other outstanding suspects," McDonald said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Our investigators remain on scene, actively gathering information to determine the full circumstances of what transpired."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He confirmed that Van Rootselaar had been born biologically male but had transitioned six years ago and identified as female "socially and publicly".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h3><strong><span>Tributes in parliament</span></strong></h3></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Canada's House of Commons opened their new session with a moment of silence before Prime Minister Mark Carney and Opposition Leader Pierre Poilievre paid tribute to the victims, their loved ones, and their small community.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Carney said Tumbler Hills represented "the very best of Canada".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Yesterday morning, parents in Tumbler Ridge sent their children off to school, and some will never be able to hug their children again," he said, speaking in French.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These children and their teachers bore witness to unheard of cruelty."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The prime minister has cancelled a planned trip to Nova Scotia and Germany, and announced that flags would be flown at half-mast throughout the nation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>With CNN.</span></em><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>If you or someone you know is in need of support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue. In the event of an emergency dial Triple Zero (000).</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>