Outrage after Canadian police obsess over school shooter’s PRONOUNS after killing eight
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) have drawn criticism for their handling of pronouns in the aftermath of a deadly school shooting in British Columbia.
Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, opened fire Tuesday afternoon at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, killing six students and a teacher, as well as two of his family members, before taking his own life. The attack is the second deadliest school shooting in Canadian history.
Authorities identified Van Rootselaar on Wednesday and noted that he had begun identifying as female six years ago. RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald explained, “We identified the suspect as they chose to be identified in public and social media.” In some statements, officers referred to Van Rootselaar as a “gunperson.”
The RCMP’s careful language sparked backlash online, with critics arguing that attention to pronouns overshadowed the victims. “I want to live in a world where Canadian law enforcement is angrier at a mass shooter than the people misgendering them,” Fox News radio host Jimmy Failla commented.
Van Rootselaar’s mother, Jennifer, and brother, Emmett, were killed at home before the school attack. Law enforcement had previously responded to multiple calls related to Van Rootselaar’s mental health and had seized firearms from the home a few years ago under Canada’s Criminal Code. Those firearms were later returned to the lawful owner, McDonald said.
Residents described Van Rootselaar as a “quiet kid” who often kept to himself. Community members emphasized the deep impact of the tragedy. Liam Irving, whose family knew the victims, said, “There’s not one person in this town right now that’s not affected by this.”
A parent whose child attended the school said their son knew the shooter and played sports with his sister. The child, present during the attack, is now afraid to return to school.
In total, 25 people were injured during the shooting. Twelve-year-old Maya Gebala suffered severe injuries to her head and neck and was not expected to survive. Her mother, Cia Edmonds, said, “Our baby needs a miracle,” and expressed grief for the six families who lost children.
An emergency alert was issued to Tumbler Ridge residents around 1:20 p.m. Tuesday, warning of an active shooter. Students and staff were instructed to lockdown shortly after. Senior Darian Quist told CBC he and classmates hid in fear for over two hours while police eventually escorted them to safety. He described the moment when the reality of the violence hit him after seeing photos of the aftermath.
The secondary school, which serves 175 students, and the nearby elementary school will remain closed for the rest of the week as the community mourns.
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