Stepfather of Tumbler Ridge shooter says in new statement he is in 'unbearable' pain after losing 11-year-old son
The mourning father of Emmett Jacobs, one of eight victims in last week’s Tumbler Ridge mass shooting, said he’s in “unbearable” pain since losing his 11-year-old son.
“I lost my little boy, a man’s pride and joy,” Matt Jacobs wrote in a statement sent to National Post on Saturday.
“The pain I have been feeling from this tragedy is unbearable. I can’t even imagine to explain how lost I feel.”
Jacobs explained that he is the estranged spouse of Jennifer Jacobs (Strang), with whom he shared three children — Emmett and two brothers — and clarified that he’s not the father of shooter Jesse Vanrootselaar, despite the “false photos” of him seen online and the “family stating” otherwise.
“Jesse was a troubled child and I did what I could before we split up,” Jacobs said. “I had no idea it had gotten this bad.”
Emmett was found dead in his family home along with 39-year-old Jennifer after Vanrootselaar, 18, carried out the attack at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School on Tuesday, killing one adult and five children before ending their own life.
The school shooting victims were identified as students Abel Mwansa, 12, Ezekiel Schofield, 13, Kylie Smith, 12, Zoey Benoit, 12, Ticaria Lampert, 12, and educator Shannda Aviugana-Durand, 39.
Jacobs described Emmett as “happy, smart and kind” and lamented not being able to spend meaningful time with him for the past eight years.
“If I could have continued to spend time with him I would have,” he stated. “My heart has always ached for him and I have missed him and my other surviving children tremendously.”
And notwithstanding the friction with his late wife, whom he was in the process of formally divorcing in hopes of remarrying a new partner in Alberta, Jacobs wished her and her family no ill will and expressed condolences for her tragic death.
“There was much I never knew about and much she held from me. I truly forgive her for it all, despite everything,” he wrote, asking for privacy for everyone involved.
Meanwhile, Amy Johann, one of Jennifer’s extended family members living in Grand Prairie, Alta., has started a GoFundMe benefiting the surviving children and a third so-far unidentified child.
“Thankfully, they have loving grandparents who have always shown up for them — steady, present, and devoted,” Johann wrote. “They will now be the ones to carry these children forward, just as they always have. But stepping into this role fully, especially in retirement, comes with significant financial strain.”
As of Sunday morning, the campaign had raised more than $15,000 on its way to a goal of $25,000. The beneficiary is listed as Adell Strang, Jennifer’s mother.
Read Matt Jacobs’ statement in full.
The pain I have been feeling from this tragedy is unbearable. I can’t even imagine to explain how lost I feel.
I lost my little boy, a man’s pride and joy. Jennifer and I had our differences but she did not deserve this, none of them did. I couldn’t even begin to comprehend the news I had heard on February 10th.
Emmett was (a) beautiful boy. When I was around, he loved fishing and being outdoors with me, he was happy, smart and kind. If I could have continued to spend time with him, I would have. My heart has always ached for him and I have missed him and my other surviving children tremendously.
There is some miscommunication and false photos floating around of me and the family stating I am Jesse’s father, I am only the biological father of Emmett, Jean-Pierre and Bentley and there has been no photos of Justin Van Rootselaar released publicly.
I was also estranged from the children for the last 8 years and she held them from me since we split. I have often tried to set up visitation and phone calls, much ignored.
I’ve been living in Alberta, so it was difficult for me to see them without a set plan in place.
Despite everything, I kept things peaceful with Jennifer; I still cared for the mother of my children deeply and we kept in contact. I was there for her when she needed help in tough situations.
Jennifer and I are still legally married. I was in the process of filing for divorce and planning on marrying my current partner.
I am currently looking to what is best for my other surviving children when the time is right and I am left here picking up the pieces of what’s left of my family in Tumbler Ridge after finding out new information on her and the family from the news. There was much I never knew about and much she held from me. I truly forgive her for it all, despite everything.
Jesse was a troubled child and I did what I could before we split up; I had no idea it had gotten this bad.
Her family loved her and I hope the public keep in mind her surviving children, family, myself and friends are deeply saddened by her loss.
I send out much heartfelt prayers to all families, especially to the ones effected (sic) and who lost their loved ones. I feel your pain and I am having an extremely hard time processing this all. I would appreciate myself and my family’s privacy at this time.
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