Grieving Together: Tumbler Ridge Community Unites After Mass Shooting Tragedy

Sat Feb 14 2026 01:09:18 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, has left nine dead, including six children, sparking an overwhelming wave of grief and solidarity in the close-knit community.

Tumbler Ridge, a small Canadian town, is grappling with the aftermath of a mass shooting that claimed the lives of nine individuals, including six children, sending shockwaves through its tight-knit community. As local residents mourn, they reflect on their previously insulated lives, now shattered by this tragic event. Support pours in from across Canada as the investigation into the suspect and the reasons behind the attack continues.

The small town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, is reeling from a tragic mass shooting that left nine individuals dead, including six children. The shooting has forced this rural community of just 2,400 residents to confront an unimaginable horror.

Local pastor Tracy Krauss shared, We’ve been insulated in Tumbler Ridge. A newcomer comes to town and they’re locking up, and everyone laughs, because why are you doing that? Nothing happens here. The recent tragedy has transformed that sense of safety into a painful memory.

Among the victims was 12-year-old Zoey Benoit, remembered as the strongest little girl you could meet, and Kylie Smith, also 12, who was described as the light of her family's life, aspiring to attend art school.

On Thursday, a memorial at the shooting site grew, with residents leaving flowers, teddy bears, and handwritten notes in honor of those who lost their lives. The event marks one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canada's history, where such incidents are extraordinarily rare.

The broader community has rallied in support, with messages of condolence flowing from across the country, including plans for Prime Minister Mark Carney to visit Tumbler Ridge to pay respects.

Many questions remain in the wake of this tragedy. 18-year-old suspect Jesse Van Rootselaar was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the local secondary school where the shooting occurred. Investigators are still piecing together the motive for the attack, which has left the community in shock.

Darian Quist, a 17-year-old student who sheltered during the attack, expressed his shock and disbelief that such an incident could occur in their small town. It doesn’t seem real, he said. But I know that it is, that the people who lost their lives are real.

As the community mourns, conversations will likely turn towards mental health support and measures to prevent future violence. For now, residents are united in grief, with Krauss concluding, Everybody knows somebody. Even for those who haven’t lost a loved one, they are still affected. The path to healing will be long, but the community stands firm together in memory of those lost.