Police RETURNED Seized Guns—Then THIS Happened

An estranged father publicly addressed his connection to a mass shooter two days after eight people died in a small Canadian town, clarifying he had no role in raising the child who committed the atrocity.

Story Snapshot

Justin VanRootselaar issued a statement February 13, 2026, about his biological child who killed eight people in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia
The shooter’s mother declined the father’s involvement from the beginning, and Jesse never used the VanRootselaar family name
Police had made multiple visits to the home for mental health concerns and previously seized firearms, which were later returned
Four firearms were used in the attack, including an unregistered shotgun whose origins remain unknown to investigators
The incident sparked discussions about firearm seizure policies and misinformation about transgender individuals

Breaking a Painful Silence

Justin VanRootselaar spoke publicly for the first time Thursday, expressing condolences to families shattered by the February 11 shooting in Tumbler Ridge. His statement emphasized a critical fact many had speculated about: he played no part in raising Jesse Van Rootselaar, the 18-year-old who murdered eight people before dying by suicide. Jennifer Jacobs, Jesse’s mother, had declined his involvement from the start of the child’s life. The clarification mattered because communities searching for answers often look to family dynamics, yet this father had been deliberately excluded from any parenting role.

The Carnage That Preceded His Words

The shooting began at home where Jesse killed Jennifer Jacobs and 11-year-old half-brother Emmett before moving to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Five students and one education assistant died in the school attack. Jesse, assigned male at birth but transitioning to female, had dropped out of school four years earlier. The BC RCMP identified the suspect Wednesday, a day after the massacre that devastated a town where residents know each other by name and pass one another at the grocery store.

Warning Signs Authorities Could Not Stop

BC RCMP had visited the residence multiple times over concerns about mental health and self-harm. Two years before the shooting, officers seized firearms from the home under the Criminal Code. Those weapons were later returned to the lawful owner after petition, a standard practice under Canadian law. Yet the main firearm that caused the most damage had never been seized by RCMP, and investigators still cannot determine its origins. An unregistered shotgun used in the attack similarly had no prior law enforcement record.

RCMP Commanding Officer Dwayne McDonald acknowledged the frustrating reality that prior seizures offer no guarantee against future violence when firearms can be legally reclaimed. The investigation now focuses on how Jesse obtained weapons despite documented mental health concerns. Four firearms total were recovered, two at the school and two at the residence, raising questions about household access when one member poses a risk even if not the legal owner.

A Father’s Distance From Tragedy

Justin VanRootselaar’s statement carefully established boundaries between himself and the shooter. He noted that Jesse never used the VanRootselaar family name, a detail that underscores the complete separation between father and child. He requested respect for his family’s grief and announced he would make no further public statements. The biological father lives in Tumbler Ridge, the same small community now processing unimaginable loss, which places him among grieving neighbors who share his shock.

Identity Politics Versus Community Mourning

News outlets noted the discrepancy between Jesse’s transgender identity and the father’s use of male pronouns in his statement. Organizations monitoring trans issues flagged the incident as fueling misinformation about transgender people, claiming the shooter’s identity was being weaponized in public discourse. These concerns emerged while a community was still counting bodies and planning funerals. The focus on pronoun usage and identity politics during acute grief illustrates how ideology often overshadows common sense and basic human compassion during tragedies.

The case raises legitimate questions about mental health intervention effectiveness and firearm policies concerning household members who present risks. The unknown origins of the primary murder weapon expose gaps in Canada’s firearm tracking systems. These are factual policy discussions that deserve attention without being derailed by accusations of stigmatizing any group. Eight people are dead because warning signs were not adequately addressed, not because of public discourse about gender identity.