Community Mourning and the Road to Healing in Tumbler Ridge

TUMBLER RIDGE, B.C. : In the wake of a devastating mass shooting that claimed eight lives on February 10, 2026, the tight-knit community of Tumbler Ridge is transitioning from a state of shock to a profound period of mourning and a loud call for sustained mental health resources.

As the RCMP confirmed the identities of the victims this week, flowers, candles, and teddy bears have formed a growing memorial outside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where much of the violence occurred.

A Community Shattered

The tragedy began at a residence on Fellers Avenue before moving to the local secondary school. On Thursday, the BC RCMP officially confirmed the names of those lost, a list that includes five young students, an educator, and two family members of the suspect.

The Victims:

From the Fellers Avenue Residence: Jennifer Jacobs, 39, and her son, Emmett Jacobs, 11.

From Tumbler Ridge Secondary: Students Abel Mwansa (12), Ezekiel Schofield (13), Kylie Smith (12), Zoey Benoit (12), and Ticaria Lampert (12), along with educational assistant Shannda Aviugana-Durand (39).

The suspect, identified by police as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, died of a self-inflicted injury at the school. Investigators are currently methodically processing digital evidence and firearms seized from both locations to determine a motive.

The Long Road to Healing

While immediate crisis teams were deployed to the town of 2,400, local leaders and residents are emphasizing that the psychological impact of such an event will last for years, not days.

“The only reasonable description I can give you is numb,” said Larry Neufeld, MLA for Peace River South. “We need peace, we need time to grieve, and we need an opportunity for the healing to begin.”

Mayor Darryl Krakowka and other community members have noted that the region already faced a shortage of mental health professionals before the tragedy. Advocates are now pushing provincial and federal governments to ensure that the support currently “on the ground” remains embedded in the community long-term.

Support Services Available

To assist those impacted, several resources have been mobilized:

Tumbler Ridge Health Centre: Offering free, drop-in counseling from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

VictimLinkBC: 24/7 support and referrals available at 1-800-563-0808.

Youth Support: Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868) and Foundry BC are providing specialized trauma-informed care for students.

As the town begins its official week of mourning, the focus remains on supporting the families of the victims and the two surviving students who remain in hospital in stable but critical condition.