A 12-year-old girl remains in critical condition at Vancouver Children’s Hospital after sustaining severe gunshot wounds to the head and neck during the mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School on February 10, 2026. Maya Edmonds, a student at the school, is battling for survival following the attack that claimed eight lives—including six children and a teacher—and injured at least 25 others in the remote British Columbia mining town.
Maya’s mother, Cia Edmonds, shared the harrowing details in updates on a verified GoFundMe page organized by relative Krysta Hunt. “Today started as any other,” Cia wrote. “Now, however, my 12 year old daughter is fighting for her life while they try to repair the damage from a gun shot wound to the head. And one to the neck.” She described the surreal horror: “This doesn’t even feel real. I never thought I would be asking for prayers… but please please, pray for my baby.” In a subsequent post, Cia expressed holding onto a “shred of hope” amid the uncertainty of Maya’s prognosis.
The fundraiser, titled “Support For Maya In Her Road To Recovery,” has raised significant funds to cover medical expenses, travel, and time off work for Cia to stay by her daughter’s side. Hunt explained that Maya was airlifted from Tumbler Ridge to BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver shortly after the shooting. Doctors performed emergency surgery to address a brain bleed and other damage, but her recovery timeline remains unknown. “All we know is that Maya made it through transport… and currently in critical care,” Hunt noted, emphasizing the family’s focus on her healing.
The shooting began at a private residence where the suspect, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar—a former student who dropped out four years earlier—killed her mother and 11-year-old stepbrother. Van Rootselaar then proceeded to the school, opening fire in a rampage that lasted minutes but left lasting devastation. Police confirmed Van Rootselaar, who had transitioned to female about six years prior, acted alone and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Prior mental health interventions at the family home, including temporary firearm seizures, had occurred, but no clear motive has been publicly disclosed.
Maya was among those seriously wounded, airlifted alongside another victim in life-threatening condition. Eyewitness accounts from survivors describe chaos: students hiding in classrooms and utility rooms, teachers shielding children, and acts of bravery like one student attempting CPR on an injured classmate. The school, serving a close-knit community of about 2,400, became a scene of terror as lockdown protocols activated and helicopters hovered overhead.
In the aftermath, Tumbler Ridge has united in grief and support. Vigils have drawn residents sharing memories of the victims, while mental health resources pour in for students, families, and first responders. Provincial and federal officials have expressed condolences, with renewed discussions on mental health access in rural areas, school security enhancements, and stricter enforcement of red-flag laws for at-risk individuals.
Maya’s family has chosen to highlight hope and community strength rather than the perpetrator. Relatives describe her as a vibrant child whose sudden fight for life has shaken everyone who knows her. Cia’s raw pleas for prayers have resonated widely, with the GoFundMe surging past initial goals as strangers and neighbors contribute. The page serves not just as financial aid but as a space for shared encouragement amid the unknown.
This tragedy ranks among Canada’s worst school shootings, surpassing many in its impact on young lives. For Maya, every hour in intensive care represents a battle against severe trauma. Medical teams continue monitoring for complications from the wounds, with the brain injury posing particular risks. Her mother’s updates reflect the emotional toll: a parent thrust into a nightmare, clinging to medical progress while fearing the worst.
As Canada processes the loss of innocent children and a dedicated educator, Maya’s story emerges as a symbol of fragile hope. The community that once felt safe in its isolation now grapples with vulnerability, yet rallies to support survivors like her. Prayers, donations, and messages flood in, underscoring humanity’s response to unimaginable pain.
The road ahead for Maya is uncertain—recovery from such injuries could span months or years, involving rehabilitation, therapy, and ongoing medical care. Her family’s resilience shines through their transparency, turning personal anguish into a call for compassion. In a town forever changed, Maya’s fight embodies the broader struggle: to heal, remember, and prevent future heartbreak.
With each update, the nation watches, hoping the “shred of hope” grows stronger. Maya Edmonds, a child caught in senseless violence, now represents endurance and the power of collective support in the face of tragedy.
