A 12-year-old girl lies in critical condition at Vancouver Children’s Hospital, battling severe brain damage from gunshot wounds to the head and neck sustained during the mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School on February 10, 2026. Maya Edmonds, a bright young student in the remote British Columbia town, became one of the most seriously injured survivors in an attack that claimed eight lives and wounded dozens more, leaving her family and community desperate for a miracle.
Maya’s mother, Cia Edmonds, shared the agonizing reality in heartfelt updates on a verified GoFundMe page set up by relative Krysta Hunt. “Today started as any other,” Cia wrote in one post. “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 added the heartbreaking plea: “This doesn’t even feel real. I never thought I would be asking for prayers… but please please, pray for my baby.” In a follow-up, Cia described holding onto a “shred of hope” as doctors worked tirelessly to address complications from the trauma.
The fundraiser, titled “Support For Maya In Her Road To Recovery,” has seen an outpouring of donations to help cover mounting medical costs, travel expenses for Cia to remain at her daughter’s bedside, and time away from work. Hunt explained that Maya was airlifted from Tumbler Ridge to BC Children’s Hospital shortly after the shooting. Emergency surgery addressed a brain bleed and other injuries, but her condition remains precarious. “All we know is that Maya made it through transport… and currently in critical care,” Hunt stated, underscoring the family’s focus on her ongoing fight.
The rampage began at a private residence where the suspect, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar—a former student who dropped out four years earlier—fatally shot her mother and 11-year-old stepbrother. Van Rootselaar then traveled to the school, unleashing gunfire that killed a 39-year-old female teacher, three 12-year-old girls, one 12-year-old boy, and one 13-year-old boy. At least 25 others suffered injuries ranging from non-life-threatening to critical before Van Rootselaar died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
RCMP confirmed Van Rootselaar, who transitioned to female approximately six years prior, acted alone. Police had responded to multiple mental health calls at the family home, including one in May 2025, during which firearms were temporarily seized and later returned. No motive has been publicly released, and the investigation continues to examine digital records, witness statements, and recovered weapons—a long gun and modified firearm.
Maya was among two victims airlifted in life-threatening condition, with RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald noting both remained serious as of February 11. Survivors recounted the terror: children hiding in classrooms and utility rooms, teachers protecting students, and heroic acts like a classmate attempting CPR on an injured peer. The school, serving a tight-knit community of roughly 2,400 in the Rocky Mountains, activated lockdown as chaos erupted, with helicopters overhead and officers responding swiftly.
Tumbler Ridge has responded with profound unity. Vigils fill the streets as residents share memories of the victims and support survivors. Mental health teams have deployed to assist students, families, and first responders processing the trauma. Provincial and federal leaders have declared days of mourning and pledged resources, sparking broader conversations on rural mental health services, school safety measures, and firearm intervention protocols in high-risk situations.
Maya’s family has deliberately centered hope and community over the perpetrator. Relatives portray her as a vibrant child whose sudden struggle has united strangers in prayer and generosity. Cia’s candid posts have amplified the fundraiser, surpassing goals rapidly as people from across Canada and beyond contribute. The page has become more than financial aid—a digital vigil offering encouragement during sleepless nights of uncertainty.
The severity of Maya’s injuries—particularly the head wound—presents significant challenges. Brain trauma from gunshot wounds often involves risks like swelling, infection, neurological deficits, and long-term rehabilitation. Doctors monitor closely for secondary complications, while the family navigates the emotional whirlwind of waiting rooms and medical updates. Cia’s words capture the raw disbelief and resilience of a parent thrust into crisis: clinging to progress amid fear.
This incident stands as one of Canada’s most tragic school shootings, evoking memories of past horrors while highlighting vulnerabilities in isolated communities. For Maya, survival represents not just medical triumph but a beacon for the town’s healing. Her story draws attention to the human cost beyond statistics—innocent children caught in violence, families forever altered, and a community’s determination to support its wounded.
As donations continue and prayers multiply, the “shred of hope” Cia holds becomes collective. Maya Edmonds, a girl who began her day like any other, now fights for tomorrow. Her endurance inspires a nation to reflect, support, and strive for prevention so no other child endures such a battle. In Tumbler Ridge’s shadow of grief, Maya’s fight embodies resilience: fragile, fierce, and shared by all who refuse to let darkness win.
