What we know about the 8 Tumbler Ridge massacre victims
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More information is emerging about those killed in the
Tumbler Ridge, B.C., mass shooting
.
On Feb. 12, the RCMP confirmed the school victims as a 39-year-old education assistant, Shannda Aviugana-Durand, and five students — three 12-year-old girls, and two boys, one aged 12, the other 13.
Police have identified the suspected shooter as Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, a biological male who began to transition to female about six years ago. Police believe Van Rootselaar died of a self-inflicted injury inside the school after the shooting.
Two more people — who police say are Rootselaar’s mother, Jennifer Jacobs and 11-year-old half-brother, Emmett Jacobs — were found dead at a nearby home.
Two students with critical injuries,
and
, were flown to BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, while 25 people were assessed for minor injuries at a local medical centre. According to her older sister Leann Fletcher’s Feb. 12
, Hoekstra is “officially out of danger and in recovery.”
Here’s what we know so far about the victims.
Zoey Benoit, 12
“She was such a beautiful, loved, strong minded 12 year old,”
of her eldest daughter, Zoey Benoit, identifying her as one of the victims of the Tumbler Ridge shooting.
Hayer said that her nephew and son also attended Tumbler Ridge Secondary on Feb. 10, and exited the school unharmed. Relieved that they were safe, Hayer waited for Benoit “for hours,” only to discover that she was one of the deceased victims.
“She loved to art, play with her siblings, she also had a beautiful singing voice that she didn’t realize that she had. She was our baby, our girl and our brave hulk and would kick some (ass) if you pissed her off and if someone tried (to) hurt her brother or sister oh goodness look out. We are ALL going to miss you my sweet baby zoey RIP.”
Ticaria Lampert, 12
Tumbler Ridge resident Kenesha Mercredi set up a
identifying 12-year-old Ticaria “Tiki” Lampert as another victim. Mercredi describes Ticaria as “a loving, courageous, humorous, one of a kind kiddo” and says that her single mother, Sarah Lampert, “could use some help with funeral costs to lay her baby girl to rest.”
Mercredi, a neighbour and friend of the family, said that Ticaria had seven siblings, “and a mother who loved her so much.” She told Postmedia that she had spent a lot of time with Tiki, painting together, cooking and doing crafts. Ticaria was a fan of KPop Demon Hunters, and Mercredi remembers her as “a kind and loving person” with a contagious laugh.
“I’ll forever cherish the bond I grew with Tiki,” said Mercredi. “Sarah devotes her whole life to her babies, and no mother deserves this. Ticaria was an amazing sibling. She was always there for her seven other siblings and made sure they were loved. That whole family is full of love.”
Leila Dusseault, who said Ticaria was one of
— “They were like sisters” — called her “one of the brightest (lights) in our lives” in a
.
“Your smile, your heart, you were courageous, funny, smart, loving, kind, caring and soo incredibly beautiful inside and out! You were always so bubbly, laughing and smiling and acting goofy with us. We spent so much time over the past years making so many incredible memories that we will cherish forever and ever baby girl! We love you and miss you so incredibly much. I can’t even put into words the impact losing you has made in our lives.”
Ezekiel Schofield, 13
“As many of you already know, Melody and I tragically lost our 13-year-old grandson,” Ezekiel Schofield’s grandfather, Peter Schofield, wrote on social media.
Ezekiel, who played hockey and was listed as a forward for the U-15 Tumbler Ridge Raptors, was “an amazing child” who always had a smile on his face, David Campbell, the president of the Tumbler Ridge Minor Hockey Association, told the Vancouver Sun.
“We have heard from so many dear friends and family members, both near and far, and we are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences during this devastating time,” his grandfather said in a Facebook post. “Your messages, prayers, and support mean more to us than words can express.”
The grieving grandfather, who could not be reached immediately for comment Thursday, asked people to keep “all of Tumbler Ridge” in their thoughts and prayers.
“The tears just keep flowing,” he said.
“So many young lives were ended so needlessly. Our hearts are broken not only for (Ezekiel), but for every family affected by this tragedy.”
Kylie Smith, 12
was a “beautiful, kind, innocent soul,” her aunt Shanon Dykce wrote on a
to support the family.
In a Facebook post, Dykce said their family’s world “crumbled” when they learned the 12-year-old girl was among the dead.
“We are completely devastated and have no words as we try to process the magnitude of the situation.”
Dykce described her niece as a “beautiful, kind, innocent soul.”
The seventh-grader, whose 15-year-old brother, Ethan, was unharmed in the attack, “had the biggest heart and was such a gentle, loving, caring girl, who lit up the way everywhere she went,” her mother, Desirae Pisarski, said in a Facebook post.
Smith’s father, Lance Younge, told
that she “was thriving in high school,” loved art and anime, and planned to study in Toronto. He described his late daughter as the “light in her family.”
Abel Mwansa, 12
Jr. loved school so much that he cried when his father suggested homeschooling, his grieving dad said in an emotional Facebook post.
“Our son went to school this morning and it happened that someone came to school with a GUN, went to my kid’s classroom, shot some kids and my son was killed too, just like that,” his father, Abel Mwansa Sr., a local pastor, wrote.
The son of immigrants from Zambia, Abel had an interest in engineering and science. He was raised “to respect elders, answer to one call, be strong, work hard,” focus on his studies and “never miss school,” his dad added.
His mother, Bwalya Chisanga, recounted that the last thing Abel said before he left for school that morning was asking for his father to pick him up after class at church, where he would be attending a youth meeting, “for he loved the Lord.”
Abel’s father got a call at work while he was having lunch to pick up his son at church at 6 p.m., only later to learn that he had been shot “like a stray dog murdered in cold blood.”
Abel had a sister, Shakainah, and a baby brother, Jasail. A local paramedic set up a
to support the family and “help them provide a proper final resting place for their sweet boy.”
“If I had power to give life I would have brought you back to life together with others that where killed alongside you but son my power is limited,” Abel’s father wrote in another post. “Seeing your child murdered at this age is heartbreaking. I was broken when I saw you packed in that BLACK BAG lifeless and zipped up like those we see in movies was devastating.”
Shannda Aviugana-Durand, 39
The RCMP confirmed that Shannda Aviugana-Durand, an educator, was among the victims of the Tumbler Ridge shooting.
“She was the most genuine, salt of the earth, give the shirt off her back to make sure you didn’t freeze kind of woman,” friend Kyle Odber said in a tribute on Facebook, adding that Aviugana-Durand leaves behind a husband, a daughter and a son.
On Feb. 13, Jennifer Hunt created a
in support of Aviugana-Durand’s family. “Shannda was a devoted wife, a proud and loving mother, a caring friend, and a deeply valued member of this community,” Hunt wrote. “She carried warmth, patience, and compassion wherever she went. She was the kind of person who showed up for others, offered comfort without hesitation, and gave her love freely.”
Aviugana-Durand was a member of the BC General Employees’ Union (BCGEU) and worked at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family, friends, coworkers, and all those whose lives she touched,” the BCGEU said in a
. “Out of respect for her family, we will share further information when appropriate. We are in coordination with our members in the region and the employers in an ongoing response.”
Jessica Jacobs, 39
RCMP have confirmed the shooter’s mother, Jessica Jacobs (previously identified as
), as one of the victims found at the home at 112 Fellers Ave., Tumbler Ridge. The
has reported that she promoted her teenager’s YouTube channel in a Facebook post, noting that her child “posts about hunting, self-reliance, guns.”
The profile was removed Wednesday afternoon for violating the platform’s community guidelines.
In August 2020, she was tagged in a birthday post recounting Jesse’s 13th birthday celebration. It included a photograph of the teen holding two cakes.
Police believe the shooter killed her and the shooter’s half-brother first, before travelling to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and launching a second attack.
Emmett Jacobs, 11
Emmett was confirmed by RCMP late Thursday as one of the two victims found at the shooter’s house.
Jean Pierre Jacobs, the estranged father of Emmett and two of the surviving children who also lived with Jennifer, released a statement on Feb. 14.
“The pain I have been feeling from this tragedy is unbearable. I can’t even imagine to explain how lost I feel. I lost my little boy, a man’s pride and joy. Jennifer and I had our differences, but she did not deserve this, none of them did. I couldn’t even begin to comprehend the news I had heard on February 10th,” he said in the statement.
“Emmett was a beautiful boy. When I was around, he loved fishing and being outdoors with me. He was happy, smart and kind. If I could have continued to spend time with him, I would have. My heart has always ached for him, and I have missed him and my other surviving children tremendously.”
In its public confirmation of the victims’ identities, the RCMP said: “The BC RCMP offers sincere condolences to the families who have lost loved ones, and to the entire Tumbler Ridge community that is grieving alongside them … The families and loved ones of those who died are requesting privacy and time to grieve.”
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