Coroner’s inquest ordered into Tumbler Ridge mass shooting

TUMBLER RIDGE, B.C. — Three weeks after the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting, B.C.’s chief coroner has ordered an inquest.

On Tuesday, March 3rd, Dr. Jatinder Baidwan said the timing of the inquest is pending the conclusion of the BC Coroners Service investigation.

It will review the circumstances that led to the deaths of six children, two adults and the 18-year-old shooter on February 10th, and assess systemic and procedural issues.

Between five and seven jurors will be chosen to hear evidence and make recommendations. A coroner’s inquest is a fact-finding, not fault-finding, exercise.

Baidwan said the venue has not been decided, but he is consulting with the Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka.

He said the inquest will examine circumstances around the deaths, including mental health services in rural communities, public safety systems and matters relating to gender diversity.

Shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar was born male, but identified as female.

“It’s a very broad spectrum of stuff that we can look at, the terms of reference are really as wide as you would want them to be,” Baidwan told reporters in Victoria.

Baidwan said the coroner’s investigation will “take as long as it takes,” but the inquest will not go into the backlog queue. It will be held as soon as information is available.

The announcement came six days after the Peace River South Conservative MLA Larry Neufeld called on Premier David Eby to commit to a public inquiry or coroner’s inquest about what led to the murder spree.

“The timeline of when we’ll be able to do this is defined by the police investigation and any associated criminal prosecutions that may come,” Eby said in Question Period. “I understand the police are investigating, for example, the origin of the guns that were used in this tragedy.”

RCMP E Division public information officer Staff Sgt Kris Clark said the “investigation remains active and ongoing.”

On March 1st, three Conservative Party MPs called on the federal government to call a separate inquiry under the Inquiries Act.

Bob Zimmer, Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP, said too many questions remain about why the tragedy happened and what could be done to prevent a repeat.

“We need answers for these moms and dads and Tumbler Ridge families,” said Zimmer.

Based on precedent, it is possible the inquest could happen this year.

On April 5th, 1996 in Vernon, gunman Mark Chahal fatally shot nine members of the Gakhal and Saran families before dying of suicide. Then attorney general Ujjal Dosanjh announced an expedited coroner’s inquest.

The inquest happened just over five months later.

The jury recommended programs for prevention and intervention of spousal abuse, better information-sharing among public agencies and improved firearms licensing.