Trans shooter who went on rampage in Canadian highschool seen for first time

The transgender gunman who murdered his mother and brother before killing eight people in the second-deadliest school shooting in Canadian history has been pictured for the first time. 

Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, opened fire in the library at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia on Tuesday afternoon.

A female teacher was killed, alongside three girls and two boys aged between 13 and 17.  

The shooter took his own life at the school. He killed his mother, Jennifer, and brother, Emmett, at their home beforehand, CTV News reported.

Van Rootselaar was understood to have used his mother’s name, Strang, socially and at school. He was named by Royal Canadian Mounted Police on Wednesday and described as a woman. 

The RCMP explained that Jesse began identifying as female six years ago, aged 12, and said there had been multiple call-outs to his home related to his mental health over the years.

‘Police have attended that residence in the past, approximately a couple of years ago, where firearms were seized under the Criminal Code,’ said Dwayne McDonald, Deputy Commissioner of British Columbia RCMP.

‘I can say that at a later point in time, the lawful owner of those firearms petitioned for those firearms to be returned, and they were.’ 

Van Rootselaar stopped attending school four years ago, aged just 14, McDonald added.

Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, opened fire in the library at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia on Tuesday afternoon

The 18 year old murdered his mother and brother before killing eight people in the second-deadliest school shooting in Canadian history

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.