News
Tumbler Ridge Canada Shooting Claims Multiple Victims
A total of eight fatalities occurred, with the victims’ ages spanning from 11 to 39 years old, while 25 others sustained injuries in the incidents that took place at both a residential location and an educational institution.
A tragic series of events unfolded in the Canadian Rockies town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, resulting in the loss of eight lives in two separate shootings that took place at a school and a residence.
In addition to the fatalities, 27 individuals were injured, leaving a profound impact on the small community of approximately 3,000 residents, many of whom will be personally affected by the aftermath of Tuesday's incidents.
The following details have been confirmed regarding the victims of the shootings.
Among the victims is Jennifer Jacobs, 39, also known as Jennifer Strang, who was the mother of the 18-year-old suspect, Jesse Van Rootselaar; she was one of two family members found deceased at a local home, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in British Columbia.
Van Rootselaar was found to have succumbed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene, as reported by the police.
Court records from 2015, related to a family dispute, reveal that Jacobs and her children had led a transient lifestyle, traveling extensively throughout Canada over the course of five years, with destinations including Newfoundland, Grand Cache, and Powell River, British Columbia, as noted by a judge who described their lifestyle as "almost nomadic."
The court had ordered Jacobs to return to British Columbia with her children.
The RCMP has confirmed that Van Rootselaar's 11-year-old step-brother, Emmett Jacobs, was also among the victims found at the residence.
The RCMP confirmed on Thursday that 12-year-old Kylie Smith was among the victims who lost their lives at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.
In a statement shared by the police, Kylie's family described her as "the light in our family," noting that she was a devoted family member and friend who enjoyed attending school.
The statement also highlighted Kylie's artistic talents and her aspiration to attend art school in Toronto.
The family's tribute concluded with a heartfelt message: "Rest in paradise, sweet girl, our family will never be the same without you."
Abel Mwansa, a 12-year-old victim, is remembered for his bright smile and passion for science.
His soccer coach, Tyler Curry, spoke to Global News about Abel's dedication to the sport and his willingness to support his teammates.
Abel's father, a pastor, expressed his grief on social media, stating that he would have given anything to bring his son and the other victims back to life, but acknowledged that such power is beyond his control.
In an interview with CBC News, the pastor described his son as "ambitious" and noted that Abel's smile could light up a room.
The RCMP has confirmed that 12-year-old Zoey Benoit was also a victim of the shooting at the secondary school.
In a statement shared by the police, Zoey's family described her as "resilient, vibrant, smart, caring, and the strongest little girl you could meet," noting that she brought joy and laughter to those around her.
The family's statement expressed their devastation at the loss, but also their commitment to cherishing Zoey's memory and keeping her close to their hearts.
The statement concluded with a message of love and remembrance: "She will forever be loved and never forgotten; we miss you, beautiful girl, Zoey, we love you so much."
Shannda Aviugana-Durand, a 39-year-old staff member at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, was also among the victims, according to the RCMP.
The BC General Employees Union (BCGEU) posted a tribute to Aviugana-Durand on social media, expressing their grief at the loss of one of their union members.
The BCGEU statement described Aviugana-Durand as a valued member of their community and extended condolences to her loved ones and all those affected by her passing.
The union's message offered deepest sympathies to Aviugana-Durand's family, friends, colleagues, and all those whose lives she touched.
The police have also identified Ticaria Lampert, 12, and Ezekiel Schofield, 13, both students at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, as among the deceased victims.
Two children, including Maya Gebala, were severely injured in the attack, according to their families.
Maya, 12, was airlifted to a children's hospital in Vancouver for treatment.
Her mother, Cia Edmonds, posted an update on social media, stating that Maya was "fighting for her life" after suffering wounds to her head and neck.
Edmonds requested prayers for her daughter's recovery.
Maya's aunt spoke to Global News about the young girl's outgoing personality and her passion for sports, particularly ice hockey.
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.
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.
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.
News
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.
News
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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