British Columbia RCMP are releasing additional details regarding one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canada’s history which occurred at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School on Tuesday afternoon.

Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald confirms the suspect as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, who is one of nine people located dead after the tragedy. 

Partial identities of the victims have also been shared. McDonald says the list includes one 39-year-old female teacher, three 12-year-old female students, two male students ages 12 and 13, Jesse’s 39-year-old mother Jennifer, and her 11-year-old stepbrother. 

“The incident at the home occurred first where we had the two deceased family members. From there, our suspect attended the school.”

The victims at the school were found in the library and the stair well. Twenty-seven others were found injures: two with gunshot wounds. Those two females were taken to hospital and are now in critical but stable condition.

This isn’t Jesse’s first run-in with police.

“Police have attended that residence on multiple occasions over the last several years dealing with concerns of mental health with respect to our suspect. I can say that on different occasions, the suspect was apprehended for assessment.” 

The most recent instance of this was in spring of last year. Firearms were sized, but no criminal charges were laid following those calls. Jesse did not have a firearms license or ownership of a registered firearm at the time of her death.  

McDonald also confirmed what many are implying on social media; Jesse was transgender. 

“We identify the suspect as they chose to be identified in pubic and on social media. I can say that Jesse was born as a biological male who, approximately six years ago, he transitioned to female.”

Jesse also was not currently attending said school, as she had dropped out four years prior.