Abel Mwansa Jr., a bright and ambitious 12-year-old boy with a radiant smile, had moved to the small mountain town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, with his family from Zambia in 2023. His father, Abel Mwansa Sr., had been excited to have a son and gave him his own name. The younger Abel loved school so much he cried when his father once suggested homeschooling.
He enjoyed doing experiments and had a promising future, with his family imagining he could become a leader, an engineer, or a scientist. A close family friend remembered him as a respectful and responsible person. In just a few years, the Mwansa family had become part of the fabric of the close-knit community.
The afternoon of Tuesday, February 10, 2026, shattered that peace forever. A former student, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, began a horrific rampage by killing her mother and 11-year-old half-brother at their home on Fellers Avenue. She then drove to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, about a mile away. At approximately 2:20 p.m., Van Rootselaar entered the school armed with a long gun and a modified rifle and opened fire. Students and teachers heard what some initially thought were construction noises, followed by screams. A lockdown alarm was activated, and students barricaded themselves in classrooms. Witnesses reported hearing a dozen shots in quick succession. The victims were found in a stairwell and the school library. Abel was one of six people killed at the school that day, along with four other students and a 39-year-old educational assistant. Twenty-seven others were injured in the attack.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) responded to reports of an active shooter. As they moved in, the perpetrator, Jesse Van Rootselaar, took her own life. The investigation that followed revealed a troubled history. Van Rootselaar, who had dropped out of school years earlier, had documented mental health issues, including previous hospitalizations under the Mental Health Act. Police had been called to the family home in the past regarding mental health concerns and had even seized firearms two years prior, though they were later returned to their lawful owner. The motive for the random, devastating attack remains unclear. In the months following the shooting, it was reported that a U.S. citizen was arrested for aiding Van Rootselaar in planning the attack.
In the wake of the tragedy, the small community of Tumbler Ridge, with a population of about 2,700, was engulfed in grief. Makeshift memorials of flowers, candles, and teddy bears appeared, and vigils were held where residents mourned together. Prime Minister Mark Carney and other federal and provincial leaders visited the town to offer their support, attending a large, emotional vigil where the names of all eight victims were read aloud. The community, described by its mayor as a family, drew strength from one another, though the trauma ran deep. Some victims' families, including that of another student, reported receiving death threats, forcing them to cancel funeral services and relocate for their safety.
Abel’s father, while grappling with unimaginable loss, expressed forgiveness for his son's killer. He wrote on social media about weeping uncontrollably even in his dreams. The family made the decision to bring their son home. With the assistance of the Canadian and Zambian governments, Abel's body was repatriated to Zambia. In early March 2026, a funeral was held in the city of Kitwe, where mourners wailed as his casket was carried into a church. He was later laid to rest as hymns and prayers were offered.
A final, heartbreaking message from Abel was delivered to his parents by a classmate who was with him in his last moments. His words, "Tell my parents that I love them so much," are now engraved on his gravestone in Zambia. Below them, his family added their own inscription: "Son, we received your last words." The case is considered closed as the perpetrator died by suicide at the scene. As of August 2026, many documents related to the investigation remained sealed to the public.
