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Canadian authorities made multiple visits to mass shooting suspect due to mental health concerns

According to authorities, the suspect’s licence to possess firearms had lapsed two years prior, and the ownership of the weapons utilized in the incident remains unspecified.

Authorities have revealed that the teenager behind the mass shooting in rural British Columbia had a history of interactions with law enforcement due to concerns over their mental health.

The 18-year-old suspect, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene, is believed to have claimed the lives of eight people, including six children, during the attack in Tumbler Ridge on Tuesday.

According to reports, Jesse Van Rootselaar had previously been taken into custody and evaluated under the Mental Health Act and had once held a firearms licence.

The ownership of the guns used in the attack and the motive behind it remain unclear, while Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to visit the affected community in the coming days.

In response to the tragedy, the province of British Columbia declared Thursday a day of mourning.

The shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School resulted in the deaths of five students, aged 12-13, and a 39-year-old teacher, with at least 25 others injured.

The suspect's mother, 39, and 11-year-old step-brother were also found dead at a nearby residence, where the attack is thought to have begun.

Two young victims are currently hospitalized in critical but stable condition.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) stated that they had visited the suspect's family home on multiple occasions in recent years due to concerns over the suspect's mental health.

As stated by RCMP Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald, "the suspect was apprehended for assessment and follow-up on different occasions".

British Columbia Premier David Eby announced that officials are working with public healthcare system officials to determine the nature of any interactions the suspect may have had with the system.

Authorities have confirmed that Van Rootselaar, who was born male, identified as female.

The small town of Tumbler Ridge, with a population of approximately 2,400, is home to the secondary school where the shooting occurred, which has around 160 students; Van Rootselaar had dropped out of school four years prior to the incident.

It has been reported that guns were previously seized from the suspect's home by police about two years ago.

However, a family member, whose name has not been disclosed, successfully petitioned to have the firearms returned.

At the scene, authorities found two firearms: a long gun and a modified handgun, although the source of the weapons used in the attack is still unknown.

A Facebook post from 2021, written by the suspect's mother, Jennifer Strang, mentioned the teenager's interest in guns, according to findings by BBC Verify.

A relative's 2021 social media post showed the suspect holding a hunting rifle.

Court documents from a separate case around a decade ago provide insight into the suspect's upbringing.

A map showing the small town of Tumbler Ridge as a satellite aerial shot. The location of the secondary school is marked on the map as well as the home where the suspect's family members were found. In the bottom left hand corner there is a map of Canada and the US with a mark showing Tumbler Ridge is in western Canada.

These documents, related to a custody battle, described the family's lifestyle as "almost nomadic" between 2010 and 2015.

During this period, the family made multiple moves, including relocations to Newfoundland, Grand Cache, and Powell River, British Columbia.

In a July 2024 Instagram post, the suspect's mother described herself as a "conservative leaning libertarian" and expressed support for protecting "trans kids".

She wrote, "Do you have any idea how many kids are killing themselves over this kind of hate?"

On Wednesday evening, hundreds of people gathered for a moment of silence in Tumbler Ridge's main square and outside the British Columbia legislature in Victoria to pay their respects.

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Entertainment And Arts

Spielberg Contributes $25,000 to Van Der Beek’s $2 Million Crowdfunding Campaign

The relatives of the deceased actor, known for his role in Dawson’s Creek, have expressed gratitude to those who contributed to the $2m fund.

A donation of $25,000 (£21,000) has been made by film director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw, to a GoFundMe campaign that has raised over $2m (£1.6m) for the family of late actor James Van Der Beek.

James Van Der Beek wearing a maroon dickie bow while smiling for the cameras on arrival at the 2019 Emmy Awards
James Van Der Beek's character Dawson was a famous fan of filmmaker Spielberg

Van Der Beek, who passed away at the age of 48, is survived by his wife Kimberly and their six children, and the crowdfunding effort to support his family has now exceeded its initial target of $2m.

Other notable donors include Oscar-winning actress Zoe Saldana, who contributed $2,500 (£2,108), and director Jon M Chu, who gave $10,000 (£8,432) to the cause.

A statement from the organizers of the fundraiser, Friends of the Van Der Beek family, expressed gratitude to all contributors, stating that their support is deeply appreciated.

The statement highlighted the significance of the donations, saying that the kindness shown by contributors is beyond words.

It also noted that the outpouring of support has been a source of comfort during a difficult time, serving as a reminder of the power of love, community, and the enduring legacy of James Van Der Beek.

Van Der Beek was perhaps best known for his starring role in the popular US teen drama series Dawson's Creek, which aired from 1998 to 2003, although he remained associated with the show until 2023.

Although Van Der Beek and Spielberg never collaborated on a project, the late actor's character in Dawson's Creek was a fan of Spielberg's work, with posters of films like ET and Schindler's List featured in his bedroom.

At a Dawson's Creek cast reunion event last year, Spielberg paid tribute to Van Der Beek by sending a video message.

In the message, Spielberg said, "Dawson, you made it," and jokingly added that he hoped to one day have a room like Dawson's, filled with memorabilia from his films.

Van Der Beek passed away on Wednesday after a battle with bowel cancer.

Steven Spielberg arrives for the 98th Oscars Nominees Luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, USA, 10 February 2026
Spielberg made a surprise video appearance at last year's Dawson's Creek reunion

He had been dealing with the diagnosis since August 2023 and publicly disclosed his condition in November 2024.

The GoFundMe campaign was launched to help the family with medical expenses, which had depleted their funds.

The statement from the organizers concluded by saying that the family is currently taking time to grieve and be together, and thanked everyone for their compassionate and generous support in honoring James Van Der Beek's life.

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Zimbabwe Shocks Australia with Muzarabani’s Exceptional Performance

Zimbabwe secured a stunning 23-run victory over Australia in the T20 World Cup, with Blessing Muzarabani playing a key role by taking 4-17.

In the current T20 world rankings, Zimbabwe occupies the 12th position.

The Men's T20 World Cup is underway in Group B at Colombo.

Zimbabwe's innings concluded at 169-2 after 20 overs, with Bennett scoring an unbeaten 64 off 56 deliveries, while Green claimed 1-6.

Australia's reply ended at 146 after 19.3 overs, as Renshaw top-scored with 65 off 44 balls, and Muzarabani took 4-17.

The match resulted in a 23-run victory for Zimbabwe.

A standout performance from Blessing Muzarabani, who took 4-17, helped Zimbabwe secure a thrilling 23-run win over Australia in the T20 World Cup.

After being set a target of 170, Australia found themselves in trouble at 29-4, but a 77-run partnership between Matthew Renshaw and Glenn Maxwell for the fifth wicket gave them hope.

With 34 runs needed from the last two overs, Renshaw's dismissal for 65, caught off Muzarabani with eight balls remaining, essentially sealed the game's outcome.

The result has left Group B finely balanced after two matches each, with Australia trailing Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka by two points, ahead of their meeting with Sri Lanka on Monday.

Initially, Zimbabwe's approach to batting first at the R. Premadasa Stadium appeared overly cautious.

Brian Bennett's innings of 64 not out from 56 balls, including seven fours, was played at a strike rate of 114.28, as he anchored the Zimbabwean batting.

In contrast, Tadiwanashe Marumani and Ryan Burl adopted a more aggressive approach, scoring 35 off 21 and 30 balls, respectively.

A late surge from Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza, who scored 25 off 13 balls, including the team's only six on the final ball, provided a boost to their total.

Australia's target seemed achievable, given their total of 182-6 in their previous win against Ireland.

However, the Australian batting line-up was severely dented by the loss of key wickets, including Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Cameron Green, and Tim David, courtesy of Muzarabani and Brad Evans.

A partnership between Renshaw and Maxwell offered some respite, but when Maxwell fell for 31, dragged on to Burl, the pressure mounted on Australia.

Muzarabani's return to bowl the penultimate over proved decisive, as he removed Renshaw, and Zimbabwe subsequently wrapped up the win.

There are calls for the ICC to review the rules regarding 12th men.

For more information, including notifications and social media updates, visit BBC Sport.

A blogger who participates in the FPL is also competing in the T20 World Cup.

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FA Cup Finalists Outside the Big Six Since 2008

As the FA Cup resumes this weekend, assess your understanding of past finalists that have competed from beyond the Premier League’s top six clubs.

This weekend, the FA Cup resumes with 32 teams remaining in contention for the historic trophy, which has been awarded for 155 years and will be presented to the winner in May.

Historically, the Premier League's top six clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham – have dominated the FA Cup, claiming 32 titles out of the last 37.

However, in recent years, teams outside of this elite group have experienced some notable victories in the competition.

Since 2008, 10 teams from outside the traditional 'big six' have advanced to the FA Cup final – can you identify all of them?

For more quizzes, visit our Football Quizzes and Sports Quizzes sections, where you can also subscribe to receive the latest quizzes directly on your device.

We have a quiz question tailored to each Premier League team – test your knowledge and see how you score.

Can you recall every team that has won the Women's Champions League?

Which players have made the most appearances in the Premier League – can you name them all?

Explore our Sports Quizzes page for a wide range of challenging and engaging quizzes.

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