In a chilling twist to one of the most horrific mass shootings in Canadian history, a teenage survivor has come forward with a bombshell claim: the 18-year-old gunman didn’t storm the school at random — he was hunting his own siblings in a twisted family vendetta that left eight people dead, including his mother and young brother.

The peaceful mountain town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia — a close-knit community of just 2,400 souls nestled under the towering Rockies — was shattered on February 10, 2026, when Jesse Van Rootselaar unleashed unimaginable terror.

What began as an ordinary Tuesday afternoon turned into a nightmare of gunfire echoing through the halls of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Van Rootselaar, who identified as a transgender woman and had dropped out of the very same school years earlier, first turned the weapons on his own family at home — brutally killing his 39-year-old mother, Jennifer Jacobs (also known as Jennifer Strang), and his 11-year-old half-brother, Emmett Jacobs.

Then, armed and raging, the shooter drove the short distance to the school, where he opened fire indiscriminately, slaughtering five young students aged 12 to 13 and a beloved 39-year-old education assistant, before turning the gun on himself in a final act of self-destruction.

The victims — Zoey Benoit, Ticaria Lampert, Kylie Smith, Abel Mwansa (12), Ezekiel Schofield (13), and Shannda Aviugana-Durand — were gunned down in the library and stairwells, places meant for learning and safety now stained with unimaginable tragedy.

Now, a brave 17-year-old eyewitness, Duncan McKay, has broken his silence in an exclusive interview, revealing what he believes was the real motive behind the carnage.

Speaking to The Telegraph from the safety of hiding, Duncan — who was playing badminton in the school gym when the horror unfolded — described the terrifying sound of more than a dozen gunshots ringing out like “hammers pounding on metal.”

He and his classmates barricaded themselves in a storage room, lights off, hearts pounding, for three agonizing hours until police gave the all-clear.

Duncan didn’t know Van Rootselaar personally, but he knew the shooter’s younger siblings attended the same school. One brother was reportedly present that fateful day.

“I think he came to the school to find his family,” Duncan said bluntly. “I’m positive he went to finish off his family.”

The claim has sent shockwaves through the grieving community, raising explosive questions about whether this was a targeted family execution that spiraled into random slaughter when the primary targets couldn’t be found — or perhaps escaped the initial chaos.

Police have so far refused to confirm any family motive, insisting the investigation is ongoing and that no specific targets have been established at the school. RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald has urged caution against speculation, warning that misinformation is already swirling online.

But Duncan’s account echoes whispers from other locals who say similar theories have been circulating since the first hours after the attack.

Canada’s strict gun laws make such atrocities rare — this is one of the worst school shootings in decades, a stark reminder that even in a nation with far fewer firearms than the U.S., tragedy can strike anywhere.

Van Rootselaar’s life was marked by turmoil. Authorities revealed the shooter had a history of police visits to the family home, often related to mental health crises, self-harm concerns, and even an incident involving setting a bed on fire after ingesting psychedelic mushrooms.

The teen’s gun licence had lapsed in 2024, and no firearms were registered in their name — yet the weapons used were obtained somehow, fueling fresh debate over gun access even in one of the world’s safer countries.

Online, deleted social media posts reportedly showed struggles with mental health, substance abuse, gender transition challenges, and a disturbing fascination with violence — including possible creation of a Roblox game simulating mass shootings, which the platform swiftly removed.

Neighbours describe Van Rootselaar as reclusive, rarely seen outside the home. One local, Danny, 31, said he’d never even met the shooter despite living nearby. Another, Neal Smith, 39, knew other family members but noted the eldest child was “hardly ever around.”

The family of five children was known to authorities, with guns once seized and later returned — a detail now haunting investigators.

In the aftermath, the tiny town has rallied in grief. Flags fly at half-mast, vigils light up the snowy nights with candles and teddy bears, and signs reading “Tumbler Ridge Strong” adorn local businesses.

Prime Minister Mark Carney called it a “very difficult day” for the nation, as communities across Canada mourn the innocent lives lost.

Yet Duncan’s words linger like a dark cloud: Was this a rampage born of personal demons, or a calculated bid to wipe out an entire family branch?

As forensic teams comb the school and home scenes, and psychologists pore over digital footprints, the truth may take months to emerge.

For now, a shattered town buries its dead, comforts the wounded — 27 injured in the chaos — and asks the unanswerable: How could this happen here?

One thing is certain: Tumbler Ridge will never be the same. The quiet Rockies echo with loss, and a survivor’s shocking claim ensures the nightmare’s motive remains the most haunting question of all.