Father of Tumbler Ridge shooter releases statement, addresses 'unforgivable act of violence'
The father of 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, who shot and killed eight people Tuesday in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., has shared a statement.
Justin Van Rootselaar issued the statement published by various Canadian news outlets, including CTV, CBC and Global News, on Friday. He expressed his “heartfelt condolences” to families who lost loves ones and everyone affected by the “senseless and unforgivable act of violence.”
He said although he was Jesse’s biological father, they were estranged. Jesse’s mother, said Justin, did not allow him to be involved in raising their child from the beginning. He clarified that Jesse did not use the Van Rootselaar family name. Instead, the 18-year-old used the last name Strang, the same last name as the mother, Jennifer Strang.
A B.C. court document from 2015 showed some contention between the parents, as Jennifer moved with her children to Newfoundland because she was pregnant. She said she wanted to be closer to family. However, she did not provide Justin with 60 days’ notice, as is required by the Family Law Act.
The children in question were not named explicitly in the court document.
The document showed that Justin had filed a Notice of Family Claim “seeking an order respecting arrangements for parenting for a child, a declaration of joint guardianship, and an order for the cooperation of the respondent and providing for her consulting with him as to matters affecting the children.”
The judge ordered that Jennifer return the children to B.C.
“But these children have led an almost nomadic life, from what I have been told, with multiple moves over the last five years between Newfoundland, Grand Cache and Powell River, British Columbia,” wrote Justice A. Saunders. “So it can hardly be the case that the children are tied in any meaningful sense to that one location.”
Saunders said that Jennifer may have believed she was acting in the best interest of the children, “despite her evidence to the contrary in the form of blaming Mr. Vanrootselaar for not contacting her.” He said her actions were done “in contempt” of Justin’s rights and called her conduct “reprehensible.”
On Feb. 10, police received reports of an active shooter at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. The individual who was confirmed to be the shooter was found dead, along with multiple victims. Roughly 25 people were injured.
The deceased victims were identified as students Abel Mwansa, 12, Ezekiel Schofield, 13, Kylie Smith, 12, Zoey Benoit, 12, Ticaria Lampert, 12, and educator Shannda Aviugana-Durand, 39.
Authorities discovered that the shooter’s mother, 39-year-old Jennifer Jacobs (Strang), and stepbrother, 11-year-old Emmett Jacobs, were found dead in their home.
Read the statement in full.
There are moments when words feel far too small for the sorrow we are carrying together. What has happened has left an ache in the heart of our town that will not soon fade. In a place where we know each other by name, where we pass one another in the grocery store and gather at the same community events, this loss feels deeply personal to us all.
To the families who have lost loved ones, and to every person who has been affected by this senseless and unforgivable act of violence, I offer my most heartfelt condolences. I cannot begin to imagine the depth of your grief. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers, and that I share in the profound sadness that has settled over our community.
As the biological father of the individual responsible, I carry a sorrow that is difficult to put into words. I was estranged from Jesse Strang and was not part of his life. His mother declined my involvement from the beginning, and I was not given the opportunity to be a part of raising him. Jesse did not use the VanRootselaar family name at any point in his life. While that distance is the reality of our relationship, it does not lessen the heartbreak I feel for the pain that has been caused to innocent people and to the town we call home.
This is a time for compassion, for holding one another close, and for supporting the families who are grieving such unimaginable loss.
As we respect your grief, we respectfully ask that you also respect ours. There will be no further statements.
With deepest sympathy,
Justin VanRootselaar
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