Zoey Renee Anne Benoit, a vibrant and caring 12-year-old girl, was remembered by her family as resilient, smart, and the strongest little girl one could meet. Her presence brought laughter and smiles to those around her. Zoey, a female student at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, had a passion for art and a beautiful singing voice she was just beginning to discover. She was fiercely protective of her siblings and loved spending time with her family.
Before moving to the small mining community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, in 2023, Zoey spent much of her childhood in Langley, where she attended Blacklock Fine Arts Elementary until the fourth grade. Her former teachers and classmates in Langley remembered her as a "ball of light" and a "warm-hearted soul" who was kind to everyone.
The morning of Tuesday, February 10, 2026, began like any other for Zoey's family. Her mother, Lori Hayer, went to work, and Zoey and her siblings went off to school. But that afternoon, their lives were shattered. At approximately 2:20 p.m., a former student, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, entered Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and opened fire. The school went into lockdown, with students and teachers barricading doors with tables. One student reported hearing a dozen shots in quick succession. Zoey was one of six people killed inside the school that day. The victims were found in a stairwell and the school library. In addition to Zoey, the attack claimed the lives of three other 12-year-old students, a 13-year-old student, and a 39-year-old educational assistant. Twenty-seven other people were injured in the school shooting.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) responded to the active shooter reports within two minutes. Van Rootselaar fired at the responding officers before taking her own life. Investigators later determined that before attacking the school, Van Rootselaar had shot and killed her mother and 11-year-old half-brother at their home on Fellers Avenue. Police recovered a long gun and a modified rifle at the school. An investigation revealed Van Rootselaar had a history of mental health issues and a fascination with firearms. In the months leading up to the attack, an accomplice in the United States, James Cody Bryant, was arrested in October 2026 for aiding Van Rootselaar in planning the shooting.
In the wake of the tragedy, the small community of Tumbler Ridge was engulfed in grief. The RCMP released the names and photos of the victims to honor their lives and aid in the community's healing process. Zoey's mother waited for hours at the school, relieved as her nephew and then her son emerged safely, but her daughter never did. "She was our baby, our girl and our brave hulk," Hayer wrote in a tribute. "We are ALL going to miss you, my sweet baby." The family vowed to cherish her memory forever, stating, "She will forever be loved and never forgotten."
The tragedy reverberated far beyond Tumbler Ridge, reaching Zoey's former community in Langley. A candlelight vigil was held at Douglas Park, where teachers, students, and community members gathered to remember the sweet girl they had known. A poem was read in her memory, describing a joyful child with "twirling dresses the colors of cotton candy" and a passion for dancing, singing, and art. A GoFundMe campaign was organized by the Tumbler Ridge Parent Advisory Committee to support the families of all the victims with funeral costs, mental health support, and other expenses.
The investigation into one of Canada's deadliest school shootings continued for months. As of October 2026, court filings revealed that Van Rootselaar had stolen guns from a family safe in preparation for the attack. The case brought profound sorrow to the tight-knit community, with the local pastor noting the added pain that the perpetrator was one of their own. In a statement, the BC RCMP offered its sincere condolences to the families and the entire community, acknowledging the long journey toward healing that lay ahead.
