Local Journalism Initiative
By Bob Mackin, Local Journalism Initiative, Prince George Citizen
Three weeks after the Tumbler Ridge mass-shooting, BC’s chief coroner has ordered an inquest.
On Tuesday, March 3, Dr. Jatinder Baidwan said 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 Feb. 10, 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 that 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 Tumbler Ridge’s Conservative MLA Larry Neufeld (Peace River South) 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 S/Sgt. Kris Clark said “the investigation remains active and ongoing.”
Neufeld and Claire Rattee, the mental health, addictions and housing supports critic, welcomed Baidwan’s announcement, but reiterated the call for a full public inquiry, under the province’s Public Inquiry Act. They want an independent examination of the roles played by public and private entities.
“There are many questions that must be answered,” Rattee said in a statement. “For example, why was the perpetrator released from psychiatric care? Why were firearms returned to his home? A coroner’s inquest can examine the circumstances of the death, but a public inquiry is needed to fully examine the broader systemic and policy failures that may have contributed.”
“We need answers for these moms and dads and Tumbler Ridge families.”
Bob Zimmer, Member of Parliament for Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies
On March 1, three Conservative Party members of Parliament called on the federal government to call a separate inquiry under the Inquiries Act.
Bob Zimmer (Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies) 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 (Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies).
Based on precedent, it is possible the inquest could happen this year.
On April 5, 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.
