Ottawa, Feb 12 (NationPress) The individual responsible for the tragic shooting that resulted in the deaths of eight individuals in British Columbia has been confirmed as a transgender female, according to law enforcement officials. Among the deceased are the shooter's mother and stepbrother.

On Wednesday, authorities adjusted the initial victim count from the shootings that took place at both a school and a residence, correcting it to eight. This change followed the realization that a woman, who had been transported to the hospital with serious injuries, was still alive, albeit in critical condition.

Including the shooter’s suicide, the overall death toll stands at nine.

As Canadians grieve the unprecedented nature of this massacre, which occurred in a country renowned for its stringent gun laws, Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald of the federal police has identified the shooter as Jesse Van Rootselaar, an 18-year-old male who began transitioning to female six years ago.

McDonald emphasized that he would refer to the individual as a female.

Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed Parliament, stating that the events in Tumbler Ridge have left the nation in disbelief and mourning.

"It is a community of miners, educators, and construction workers—families who have established their lives there, individuals who have always supported one another," he remarked.

The shootings sent shockwaves through the small town of approximately 2,400 residents located in a mining region.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on social media, stating, "India stands in solidarity with the people of Canada during this deeply sorrowful time."

McDonald detailed that the shooter first killed his mother and stepbrother at their home before proceeding to a local high school, where he tragically took his own life following the attack.

Upon police arrival—within two minutes of being notified—they discovered the bodies of an educator and five students, three girls and two boys aged between 12 and 13, in the school library and on a staircase.

Van Rootselaar had previously withdrawn from the school about four years ago, according to McDonald.

Authorities had responded to the shooter's residence multiple times concerning mental health issues, with firearms involved in some instances, McDonald noted.

While weapons had been confiscated from the home, they were later returned to the lawful owner upon request.

In stark contrast to the United States, where mass shootings are more common, Canada has stringent gun control laws and experiences significantly fewer incidents of such violence. The last notable school shooting occurred in Montreal in 1989, resulting in 14 deaths. The most significant massacre in recent Canadian history was in Nova Scotia in 2020, where a man killed 13 individuals over two days, with nine more fatalities resulting from arson.

In the United States, there have been two recent incidents involving transgender individuals committing mass shootings linked to educational institutions. In 2023, a transgender male fatally shot three students and three staff members at a Christian school in Nashville. Last year, a transgender female launched an attack on a Catholic church during a children's prayer service in Minneapolis.