Canadian police have arrested the older brother of the Tumbler Ridge, B.C., mass shooting suspect after a Canada-wide warrant was issued for attempted murder, the RCMP said.
Police identified the man as Jacob Van Rootselaar, 22, and said he was arrested in Sylvan Lake, Alta., after being sought in connection with a 2024 incident in Fort McMurray involving an edged weapon.
Jacob Van Rootselaar arrest tied to 2024 Fort McMurray case
Wood Buffalo RCMP said Van Rootselaar was wanted on an attempted murder file dating to 2024. Police said he was located and taken into custody outside a residence in Sylvan Lake on Feb. 19.
RCMP also said he now faces additional allegations related to weapons possession and breaching court-ordered conditions, linked to the circumstances of his arrest.
Release conditions and missed residence check
After being charged, Van Rootselaar was released from custody, police said.
RCMP said he was initially approved to live in Dawson Creek, B.C., but that was later changed to Tumbler Ridge. Staff Sgt. Sabrina Clayton previously said police did not find him at the approved residence during a check earlier this month, and a Canada-wide warrant was issued afterward.
Police said they could not immediately confirm the exact date the residence check took place.
Link to Tumbler Ridge mass shooting
Clayton said Jacob Van Rootselaar is the older brother of Jesse Van Rootselaar, who killed eight people on Feb. 10 in Tumbler Ridge before dying.
The shooting has prompted broader scrutiny of safety warnings and online activity connected to the attacker, while police continue to investigate the events and circumstances leading up to the killings.
