Canada Police rejected the criticism that they were protecting the shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar's identity and gender, and emphasized that they identified the suspect as they chose to be identified in public and in social media. The police said the shooter was an 18-year-old female Jesse Van Rootselaar, who was born as a biological male who identified as female.
BC RCMP commanding officer Dwayne McDonald was asked why the Canadian police were hiding the fact that Jesse was a transgender. "We are not hiding it. In fact, you are the first person to have asked this question," the officer said adding that Jesse began transitioning six years ago. The officer also elaborated the delay in confirming Jesse Van Rootselaar's name and said the cops were handling more pressing situation at hand -- locking down locations, informing the family members of the deceased and the name was released only after full confirmation.
