Gun control advocacy groups renewed their calls this week for the RCMP to release more information about the firearms used in February’s mass killing in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., in which eight people were killed and two more were sent to hospital.
PolySeSouvient and Danforth Families for Safe Communities say it’s been 100 days since the tragedy and important questions remain unanswered, including the types of guns used and how the shooter obtained them.
Ken Price, a spokesperson with Danforth for Safe Communities, said police have been slow to offer facts publicly, with unverified information about the shooting still circulating on social media.
“My biggest fear is that a lot of this stuff gets filled in,” he said. “If you don’t have authorities speaking quickly and factually about what they’ve discovered, people draw their own conclusions.”
Both groups say the lack of information by police is leaving the public in the dark and prevents an informed debate about Canada’s gun control laws and enforcement.
CBC News is part of a consortium of media outlets taking legal action to obtain information about the guns used in the mass shooting and firearms seized from the home of shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar.
Heidi Rathjen is a coordinator for PolySeSouvient and was a student at l’Ecole Polytechnique during the 1989 massacre in Montreal.
She says basic information about what happened in Tumbler Ridge should be disclosed by RCMP, including why guns were returned to the family’s home with an individual experiencing mental health issues.
“When it comes to saving lives, there is no time to wait when information will not compromise any investigation, but it will inform the political debate about what to do,” said Rathjen.
RCMP previously said there was a history of police attendance at the shooter’s family residence, with some calls related to mental health issues.
In one instance, Van Rootselaar was apprehended under the Mental Health Act and taken to hospital for assessment.
RCMP also said Van Rootselaar had a firearms licence which expired in 2024, and firearms were seized two years ago from the family home under the Criminal Code, but later returned after being petitioned for by the lawful owner.
“In this case, somebody, fell through the cracks. And we need to know how that happened,” said Rathjen.
Two additional firearms were seized from the residence for priority assessment, with the firearm used in the deaths at the family home not previously known to police, according to RCMP.
Van Rootselaar shot her mother and half-brother before killing five students and an educational assistant at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. She then killed herself.
“All firearms remain part of an active criminal investigation, including tracing ownership and origin,” wrote B.C. RCMP spokesperson Staff Sgt. Kris Clark by email.
Clark said RCMP provided information regarding the firearms used within a day of the shooting. Previously, RCMP shared that they were investigating four firearms — two retrieved from the shooter’s home and two from the school, one of which was an unregistered shotgun and another was a modified rifle.
“We are mindful of other independent processes underway and will therefore limit our comments accordingly,” he wrote.
“The B.C. RCMP remains committed to providing answers where and when we can, and we appreciate the public’s patience as verified, official information becomes available.”
Clark added he’s aware of PolySeSouvient’s position, but urged caution when comparing the Tumbler Ridge investigation to other events in Canada and internationally.
“Even within Canada, legislation can impact what information may be disclosed in situations that might otherwise appear similar,” he said.
Minister of Public Safety Nina Krieger says the RCMP investigation is in its final stages, but said she understands the desire for answers.
“The integrity of the police investigation is so essential,” she said. “Ultimately, it is through that investigation that accountability will be ensured and rushing that investigation will not support that function.”
Families of the Tumbler Ridge shooting victims are suing OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, after it was revealed the shooter’s account was banned for allegedly planning violent scenarios before the attack.
Rathjen says police knew there were problems in the household even without red flags raised by the shooter’s internet activity.
“I think in this case, it’s secondary,” she said. “It’s very convenient for the government to focus on something that’s outside of their purview right now.”
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