đ¨ FINAL TRANSFORMATION: The final moments of 12-year-old Maya Gebala in the Tumbler Ridge Secondary library have just been leaked from security cameras â a scene so horrific it will leave you breathless, your heart pounding, unable to believe your eyes. đą Screams echo, children rush into a hidden corner, and little Maya bravely charges to lock the door to protect her friends⌠then everything plunges into chaotic darkness. That heroic act, the extreme horror, and the price paid⌠too heartbreaking to recount. Her parents are still by her bedside, but watching this clip will break your heart once again. This isn’t a movie â this is the brutal truth about a child’s courage in the face of terrible danger. Watch to understand the pain, but prepare yourself⌠the final detail in the footage will haunt you forever đ
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The Heroic Bravery Amid Horror: Maya Gebala’s Story in the Tumbler Ridge School Shooting
In the quiet, snow-dusted town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, a place known for its rugged mountains, mining heritage, and close-knit community of about 2,400 residents, tragedy struck on February 10, 2026, shattering the peace of this remote Canadian outpost. What began as an ordinary school day at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School turned into one of the deadliest mass shootings in recent Canadian history, claiming the lives of eight people and injuring dozens more. At the center of this heartbreak is 12-year-old Maya Gebala, a young girl whose courageous attempt to protect her classmates has captured the nation’s attention.
A viral social media post, phrased in dramatic, breathless terms, described purported “leaked” security camera footage of Maya’s “final moments” in the school libraryâa scene of screams, chaos, and heroic sacrifice that allegedly plunges into “darkness.” The post, which has circulated widely online, claims to show children hiding, Maya charging to lock the door, and a harrowing conclusion that “will haunt you forever.” However, extensive searches across news outlets, social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), and web sources reveal no evidence of such leaked footage. Authorities, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), have not confirmed the existence or release of any security videos from the incident, and major media reports make no mention of it. This sensational narrative appears to be a fabrication or exaggeration, possibly designed to drive clicks and shares in an era of viral misinformation. Yet, the core of the storyâthe brutal reality of a child’s courage in the face of unimaginable dangerâis rooted in verified accounts from survivors, family, and investigators.
This article delves into the facts of the Tumbler Ridge shooting, focusing on Maya’s story while unpacking the broader context of the event. Drawing from credible news sources, family statements, and community responses, we explore the timeline, the victims, the shooter’s background, and the ongoing impact on this resilient town. As Canada grapples with this rare but devastating act of violence, Maya’s tale stands as a poignant reminder of innocence lost and heroism found in the darkest moments.
The Town of Tumbler Ridge: A Backdrop of Resilience
Nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, Tumbler Ridge is a young community, founded in the early 1980s as a coal mining town. Its population booms and busts with the fortunes of the mines, but its spirit is forged in adversityâeconomic downturns, harsh winters, and now, this unthinkable tragedy. Aerial views of the town show winding roads snaking through evergreen forests, with homes clustered against the vast wilderness.
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About Tumbler Ridge â Visit Tumbler Ridge
The town’s main street, lined with Canadian and British Columbia flags fluttering outside modest buildings, reflects a quiet pride.
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Why Tumbler Ridge is resilient
Yet, on February 11, 2026, yellow police tape cordoned off parts of the community, a stark symbol of the violence that had intruded.
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History of Tumbler Ridge, a mining boom town with a wounded heart – Victoria Times Colonist
Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, serving grades 7 through 12, is a central hub for the town’s youth. The brick building, with its welcoming sign and mural of northern lights, stands as a place of learning and community gatherings.
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On that fateful Tuesday, around lunchtime, the school became the site of horror when 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar entered the library armed with firearms.
The Timeline of Terror
According to RCMP reports, the rampage began at a home on Fellers Avenue, where Van Rootselaar lived with their mother, Jennifer Strang, and half-brother, Emmett Jacobs. Van Rootselaar, who identified as female and was known by some as Jesse Strang, first killed Strang, 39, and Jacobs, 11, before proceeding to the school. The motives remain under investigation, but family friends have pointed to Van Rootselaar’s history of mental health struggles, including multiple hospitalizations and an incident where they attempted to set fire to the family home.
At the school, Van Rootselaar targeted the library, where students were gathered. Eyewitness accounts describe chaos: screams echoing through the halls as children sought cover behind bookshelves and under tables. Five studentsâAbel Mwansa Jr., 12; another 13-year-old boy; and three 12-year-old girlsâwere killed, along with a 39-year-old female educator, believed to be Shanda Abigana Duran. Dozens more were injured, with wounds ranging from gunshot injuries to trauma from the ordeal. Van Rootselaar died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene.
The total death toll, including the home victims and the shooter, reached nine, making it one of Canada’s worst mass shootings since the 2020 Nova Scotia rampage. Over 25 people received treatment for non-life-threatening injuries, while twoâ including Maya Gebala and a 19-year-old womanâwere airlifted in critical condition.
Maya Gebala: A Child’s Courage in the Face of Danger
Amid the pandemonium, 12-year-old Maya Gebala emerged as a symbol of selfless bravery. A Grade 7 student known for her outgoing personality, love of hockey, and feisty spirit, Maya was in the library when the shooter entered. According to her aunt, Krysta Hunt, and friends who survived, Maya rushed toward the door in an attempt to lock it, shielding her classmates from the intruder. Unable to secure it fully, she then dove under a table for coverâbut not before being struck by gunfire.
Maya sustained severe injuries: a bullet to the head above her left eye and another to the neck. The head wound caused significant brain swelling and bleeding, requiring emergency surgery at BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver. Doctors initially warned her parents that the damage might be too extensive for survival, predicting she might not make it through the first night. Yet, defying the odds, Maya held on. By February 12, she showed small but hopeful signs of progress: twitching her left hand and leg, coughing, and responding to reduced sedation. Her parents, Cia Edmonds and David Gebala, remain by her bedside, describing her as “too stubborn” to give up.
In a heart-wrenching detail that echoes the viral post’s descriptionâthough without video evidenceâMaya’s friends noticed her finger move after she was shot, a sign she was still alive. They carried her out of the building to safety, an act that likely saved her life. Social media updates from her family, including photos of Maya in her hockey gear juxtaposed with her hospital bed, have garnered thousands of supportive comments. A GoFundMe campaign, launched to cover medical expenses and allow her mother to stay in Vancouver, has raised over $280,000 as of February 15, 2026.
Maya’s story has resonated deeply, not just for her heroism but for the innocence it represents. Described by her father as “full of joy and love,” she embodies the everyday child thrust into extraordinary peril. Her parents have urged the public to focus on healing rather than politicizing the tragedy, emphasizing mental health resources over debates on guns or gender identity.
The Victims: Lives Cut Short
The shooting’s toll extends far beyond Maya. Abel Mwansa Jr., a 12-year-old boy who had moved to Canada from Zambia less than a year prior, was remembered by his father as a “leader” with a “genuine smile.” His family had come for better opportunities in mining, only to face this devastation. The other student victimsânames like Ezekiel Schofield, Kylie Smith, Zoe Benoah, and Kerry Lambert have been mentioned in tributesâwere all between 12 and 13 years old, their futures stolen in an instant.
The educator, a 39-year-old woman dedicated to her students, was killed while in the library. At home, Jennifer Strang, a single mother working grueling shifts at a local mine, and her young son Emmett were the first victims. Strang’s friendship with Maya’s mother adds a layer of interconnected grief in this small town.
The Shooter: A Troubled Past
Jesse Van Rootselaar’s background has sparked national conversations about mental health and support systems. Identified as transgender, Van Rootselaar had struggled with severe issues, including hospitalizations and suicidal tendencies. Maya’s mother, who once babysat Van Rootselaar, expressed compassion for Strang, noting the challenges of raising a child with such needs in a remote area with limited resources. While some online commentary has politicized Van Rootselaar’s gender identity, family and experts stress that the root causes lie in untreated mental illness, not identity itself. This balanced view aligns with calls from stakeholders, including gun control advocates and mental health organizations, for comprehensive reforms.
Critics argue that Canada’s strict gun laws failed here, as the firearms’ source remains unclear. Others point to the isolation of rural communities, where access to psychiatric care is limited. These perspectives, drawn from diverse sources like CBC and Global News, highlight the multifaceted nature of prevention.
Community and National Response
In the days following, Tumbler Ridge united in grief. Hundreds gathered for a candlelight vigil, flames flickering against the night sky as residents mourned.
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Stuffed animals and messages of hope dotted memorials, symbolizing the lost childhoods. Nationally, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered condolences, pledging support for mental health initiatives.
The absence of leaked footage underscores the dangers of misinformation. While the viral post’s dramatic language may stem from genuine emotional response, it risks retraumatizing families. As Maya’s father said, “We need prayers, not politics.”
Broader Implications: Lessons from Tragedy
This shooting prompts reflection on school safety, mental health funding, and community resilience. In rural Canada, where distances to services are vast, experts call for telehealth expansions and early intervention programs. On transgender issues, while some conservative voices blame “trans madness,” studies from organizations like the Trevor Project show that transgender youth face higher rates of mental health crises due to discrimination, not identity. A balanced approach, substantiated by data, suggests addressing root causes like bullying and lack of support.
Gun control debates intensify, with advocates noting that despite bans on assault weapons, illegal firearms persist. Yet, as Maya’s family emphasizes, the focus should be on human stories, not division.
Conclusion: Hope Amid Heartbreak
As of February 15, 2026, Maya Gebala continues her fight, her parents holding vigil by her side. The “final moments” described in that sensational post may be fictional, but the real horrorâand heroismâis undeniable. Maya’s charge to the door, the screams of her friends, the plunge into darkness: these are the truths of a tragedy that has united a nation in sorrow and solidarity.
In Tumbler Ridge, the mountains stand sentinel over a wounded community, but resilience shines through. As candles burn in memory,
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Jesse Van Rootselaar: What we know about the Canada shooting suspect and the victims of the attack | CNN
so does hope for Maya’s recovery and for preventing future pain. This isn’t a movieâit’s the brutal truth of courage, loss, and the unyielding human spirit.
