The remote mountain community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, a quiet town of just over 2,000 residents nestled in the Rockies, was shattered on February 10, 2026, when an 18-year-old local carried out one of Canada’s deadliest school shootings in decades. Eight people lost their lives—five students, one education assistant, the shooter’s mother, and her 11-year-old half-brother—while more than two dozen others were injured. Amid the devastation, 12-year-old Maya Gebala emerged as a symbol of extraordinary courage, attempting to barricade her classmates in the school library before being struck by multiple bullets.
The day began like any other Tuesday at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Grade 7 and 8 students gathered in the upstairs library for class or quiet reading. Around 2:20 p.m. local time, chaos erupted. The shooter, identified by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as Jesse Van Rootselaar, had already fatally shot her mother, Jennifer Jacobs, 39, and half-brother Emmett Jacobs, 11, at their nearby home. Armed with two firearms, Van Rootselaar then entered the school and headed straight for the library.
Witness accounts and family statements describe Maya hearing the screams and initial shots. Instead of fleeing or hiding under a desk like many others, the 12-year-old ran toward the heavy wooden doors. She pushed against them desperately, trying to close and lock the entrance to buy time for her friends to find cover. Classmates later told relatives that Maya’s quick thinking allowed several to scatter to safer spots or hide effectively. But the shooter reached the threshold before the lock could fully engage.
One shot grazed Maya’s cheek and ear. Two more struck her head and neck. She collapsed, yet even in those final moments before unconsciousness, she clung to something in her hand—an item later recovered at the scene that has fueled speculation and added a layer of mystery to the tragedy. While police have not publicly disclosed details about the object to protect the ongoing investigation, sources close to the family and early reports suggest it was a small personal belonging that hinted at prior unease or awareness of potential danger.
Maya was airlifted to BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver, where she underwent emergency surgery. Doctors placed her in a medically induced coma to manage severe brain swelling from the head wound. Her mother, Cia Edmonds, and father, David Gebala, have remained at her bedside. In emotional social media updates and a verified GoFundMe campaign, Edmonds shared the family’s anguish: the day started normally, with plans for Maya to pick up lunch money, but ended in nightmare. Initial medical warnings were grim—doctors feared the brain damage might prove fatal within hours. Yet small signs of hope emerged: slight movements in her limbs, kicks, hand twitches—enough to keep the family clinging to possibility.
The shooter, Van Rootselaar, had dropped out of the same school about four years earlier. Police noted a history of mental health concerns, with multiple visits to the residence prior to the attack. Born biologically male, Van Rootselaar had transitioned to female approximately six years ago and identified publicly as such. After the library assault, the suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound shortly before officers arrived.
The victims included young lives full of promise: 12-year-old Kylie Smith, who loved art and dreamed of university in Toronto; other students aged 11 to 13; and an education assistant dedicated to the community’s children. Paige, another critically injured child, also fights for recovery in hospital alongside Maya.
Tumbler Ridge responded with raw grief and unity. The public library became a safe gathering space for families avoiding media glare. Schools canceled classes indefinitely. Vigils filled the streets, candles flickering in memory of the lost. Prime Minister statements expressed national mourning, while the community emphasized support over speculation.
Investigators continue processing the school, the family home, and the suspect’s vehicle. Autopsies on all victims and the shooter were completed by the weekend following the attack. Motive remains under investigation, though mental health factors appear central. The incident has reignited discussions on gun access, school safety protocols, and mental health resources in rural Canada—despite the country’s strict firearms laws making such events exceptionally rare.
Maya’s family has expressed compassion even for the shooter’s loved ones, urging focus on healing rather than division. Edmonds described feeling for the other mother’s pain while holding vigil for her own daughter. The GoFundMe, launched to cover medical expenses and allow Edmonds to stay by Maya’s side, has drawn widespread donations from across Canada and beyond, reflecting a nation’s collective heartbreak.
In interviews, relatives like cousin Krysta Hunt recounted Maya’s selflessness: hearing the chaos, she chose action over fear. That choice gave classmates precious seconds to survive. Now, as Maya battles in intensive care, the town holds its breath for updates. Small victories—any response, any movement—become reasons to hope.
The Tumbler Ridge shooting stands as a stark tragedy in a peaceful place. Eight lives ended too soon, dozens scarred forever. Yet in the darkness, Maya’s story shines: a child who, facing the unthinkable, fought like a guardian. Her courage has united strangers in prayer and support. As doctors work and the community mourns, one question lingers—will this brave girl’s miracle come?
