Thederanged high school dropout who murdered his mother and stepbrother before killing six people at a British Columbiahigh school has been identified as 18-year-old transgender ex-student Jesse Van Rootselaar.
The horrifying attack, one of thedeadliest shootings in Canada’s history, began Tuesday at a residence in the sleepy rural community of Tumbler Ridge, in the western province, and concluded at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School — where authorities say Van Rootselaar died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Van Rootselaar was identified Wednesday as the shooter by Royal Canadian Mounted Police Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, who said he was “born a biological male … who approximately six years ago began to transition to female, and identified as female.”
Asked by a reporter whether he believes there was any correlation between Van Rootselaar identifying as transgender and the shooting, McDonald said it’s “too early to say.”
McDonald said police had visited the family home on multiple occasions over the last several years due to concerns over Van Rootselaar’s mental health.
On more than one occasion, he was taken into custody for assessment under the Mental Health Act, he said.
Two years ago, firearms were seized from the home, but the lawful owner — who McDonald did not name — got them back after petitioning to have them returned.
Two firearms were recovered at the school, including a long gun and a modified handgun, but it was not immediately clear whether they were the weapons that were previously confiscated and returned.
An initial alert issued about an active shooter at the school Tuesday afternoon described the shooter as a “female in a dress.”
The police superintendent later described the shooter as a “gunperson” in a press briefing.
Source: Drudge Report
