Tragic Shootings in Tumbler Ridge: Remembering the Victims

Fri Feb 13 2026 05:01:40 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A solemn tribute to the victims of the recent shootings in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, as families and friends mourn the loss of eight lives, including children and educators.

In a devastating incident in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, a total of eight people were killed following shootings at a secondary school and a nearby home. This article highlights the lives of the victims, including students and a young teacher, and details the grief experienced by the local community, as many residents were directly affected. As investigations continue, the story unfolds within the broader context of gun violence in Canada.

Eight people were killed in two shootings - at a school and at a home - in the Canadian Rockies town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, this week.

Another 27 people were injured, meaning many residents in the rural community of just 3,000 people will know someone who was a casualty of Tuesday's attacks.

Here is what we know about the victims.

Jennifer Jacobs and Emmett Jacobs

The mother of 18-year-old shooting suspect Jesse Van Rootselaar is among the victims. Jennifer Jacobs, 39, who was also known as Jennifer Strang, was one of two of Van Rootselaar's family members found dead at a local residence, British Columbia's Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said.

Van Rootselaar was found dead on the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said. Court documents related to a family dispute from 2015 show that Jacobs and her children had spent years travelling around Canada, with a judge saying the family led an almost nomadic life.

Van Rootselaar's 11-year-old step-brother, Emmett Jacobs, was also killed at the residence.

Kylie Smith

Among the victims killed at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School was 12-year-old Kylie Smith, the RCMP confirmed on Thursday.

Kylie was the light in our family. She loved her family, friends, and going to school, her family said in a tribute shared by the police.

Abel Mwansa

Abel Mwansa, who was 12, is being remembered for his beautiful smile and love of science. He was also a great soccer player.

Zoey Benoit

Zoey Benoit, 12, was also killed at the secondary school. She was so resilient, vibrant, smart, caring and the strongest little girl you could meet, her family said.

Shannda Aviugana-Durand

Shannda Aviugana-Durand, a 39-year-old teacher, was also killed at the school. We are grieving the profound loss of one of our union members whose life was taken in this terrible event, said the BC General Employees Union.

Other Victims

Other deceased victims include Ticaria Lampert, 12, and Ezekiel Schofield, 13, both students at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Additionally, 12-year-old Maya Gebala was seriously injured and is fighting for her life in a hospital.

The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the close-knit community of Tumbler Ridge, as residents come to terms with the scale of the violence that has befallen their town.