Weapons and psychological well being struggles: What the obvious on-line footprint of the Canada college shooter tells us

[ad_1] The suspect in Canada’s Tumbler Ridge mass shooting posted about weapons and searching on her YouTube channel and appeared to have written about her struggles with psychological well being on-line, in response to social media posts.

Canadian police named 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar because the shooter who killed her mom and 11-year-old stepbrother earlier than opening fireplace at Tumbler Ridge Secondary College, killing 5 college students and a instructor after which fatally taking pictures herself. Police are nonetheless investigating and haven't decided a motive.

Van Rootselaar, who was transgender, transitioned about six years in the past, in response to police. She was a resident of the distant city within the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in British Columbia and had dropped out of college about 4 years in the past.

In line with social media posts, verified by CNN, Van Rootselaar had entry to weapons and was captivated with searching.

Jennifer Strang, the suspected shooter’s mom, posted a photograph to Fb in 2024 of a cupboard holding what seems to be six searching rifles, with the caption “Suppose it’s time to take them out for some goal observe.”

Van Rootselaar spoke about searching and weapons on a YouTube channel, in response to a 2021 Fb submit by Strang.

Strang posted a hyperlink to what she described as Van Rootselaar’s YouTube channel, which incorporates “posts about searching, self-reliance, weapons and stuff (she) likes to do.” Strang inspired her associates to test it out and subscribe.

That YouTube channel had been taken down as of Thursday. An archived search confirmed a number of movies posted on it with titles associated to firearms.

A Reddit person with the identical username because the YouTube channel, and whose exercise is per the channel and the age of the suspected shooter, posted a video in 2023 of themself utilizing a gun at a firing vary.

Whereas Canada has far stricter gun laws than the US , it's authorized to personal sure varieties of weapons with a legitimate license. Kids between 12 and 17 can use a firearm for an permitted goal equivalent to searching or goal observe with a Minor’s License.

Police recovered two firearms, an extended gun and a modified handgun on the scene on Tuesday, although neither was registered to Van Rootselaar, whose license expired in 2024.

Searching is a typical pastime in Tumbler Ridge, Rev. Gerald Krauss of the city’s New Life Meeting Church advised CNN.

The small city is greatest recognized for its nature and is surrounded by wildlife together with deer, moose, elk, wolves, and grizzly and black bears.

The group is not any stranger to weapons however a deadly taking pictures was “model new,” in response to Krauss. “All people hunts and nobody did one thing silly,” he stated, calling them “very accountable individuals who stay right here.”

Police seized firearms from Van Rootselaar’s residence a few years in the past however later returned them when the proprietor petitioned for them, Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police stated on Wednesday. Police didn't specify the proprietor of the firearms.

McDonald stated police had additionally visited Van Rootselaar a number of occasions in recent times concerning psychological well being points, and that on some events “the suspect was apprehended for evaluation and comply with up.”

The newest go to, final spring, was over “issues concerning psychological well being, self-harm,” he stated.

On the Reddit account which matched the username of Van Rootselaar’s YouTube channel, a number of posts brazenly mentioned struggles with psychological well being points, with the poster saying that they had sought psychiatric assist in 2023. The Reddit posts additionally detailed drug use.

When requested if the city had enough help for psychological well being companies, the city’s mayor, Darryl Krakowka, stated it was one thing the group was brief on.