On February 10, 2026, in the small town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada, 18 year old Jesse Van Rootselaar carried out a mass shooting. Born male and identifying as a transgender woman after beginning transition around six years earlier, Van Rootselaar first murdered her 39 year old mother, Jennifer Jacobs, and 11 year old half brother, Emmett Jacobs, at their family home.
The shooter then drove to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, the same school she had attended before dropping out years earlier, and opened fire around 2:20 p.m. local time. Inside, Van Rootselaar killed six more people: five students (three 12 year old girls and two boys aged 12 and 13) and a 39 year old female education assistant. Twenty seven others were wounded. The attacker then died by suicide at the scene.
One of the gravely injured was 12 year old Maya Gebala. According to witness accounts and reports tied to the incident, Maya heroically tried to lock the library door to protect her classmates as gunfire erupted. The shooter confronted her and said words to the effect of “You are a girl, I will never be one,” before shooting her multiple times in the head and neck. One bullet passed through her skull and brain, causing catastrophic injury.
Maya was airlifted to BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver. She was placed in a medically induced coma, underwent multiple surgeries, and fought life-threatening complications for weeks.
As of mid April 2026, Maya has emerged from the coma and left intensive care.
Her condition remains very serious. She struggles to walk and speak, and doctors have indicated she will live with permanent cognitive and physical disabilities from the brain injury. Her family is arranging transfer to specialized rehabilitation care in Los Angeles with external support to aid her long recovery.
The perpetrator, Jesse Van Rootselaar, died by self inflicted gunshot wound at the school. No further updates on motive have been released by authorities beyond the ongoing investigation.
What do you think is the most important step to prevent tragedies like this?
Here’s footage of Maya during her hospital recovery:
