MP reveals Tumbler Ridge girl's heroism, and how she passed on boy's dying message

Maya Gebala and Abel Mwansa, both victims of a school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., are seen in this composite image.

The MP representing Tumbler Ridge, B.C., has described how a 12-year-old girl heroically tried to save two classmates shot in the mass killing in the community last month.

Bob Zimmer told Tuesday’s National Prayer Breakfast in Ottawa that the girl, named Christina, had dragged Abel Mwansa Jr. and Maya Gebala under a table after both of the 12-year-olds were shot at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.

Zimmer said Mwansa died in Christina’s arms about 30 minutes later, while Gebala was gravely injured and remains in BC Children’s Hospital in Vancouver.

He said Mwansa seemed to know that he was dying and gave Christina a message to pass on to his parents.

Zimmer said that a few days later, after the funeral for one of their classmates, Christina asked to visit Mwansa’s parents at their home to pass on their son’s message.

“Abel Jr., while appearing to know he was dying, asked Christina to pass along a message to his mom and dad: ‘Tell my mom and dad that I love them,’” Zimmer told the prayer breakfast.

Zimmer said they were “tragic, yet beautiful words from a beloved son to his beloved parents,” who wouldn’t have heard them but for the promise kept by Christina.

Zimmer told reporters on Wednesday that he expected the federal government to call a public inquiry into the Feb. 10 shooting, in which eight victims died.

The Conservative MP said other investigations still needed to wrap up beforehand, but he and the community expected the “public inquiry will happen.”

Police investigations continue, while a B.C. coroner’s inquest into the killings will examine how the mental health and public safety systems intersected.

Zimmer said he visited Gebala in hospital on the weekend.

He said he was pleased to see how active she was, adding that she was able to move her arm and leg, as well as follow his conversation.

Things are “looking good,” he said, “but she has still long ways to go.”

He had said on Tuesday that Gebala was alive in part because of Christina’s heroism.

Jesse van Van Rootselaar, 18, fatally shot her mother and half-brother at their home in Tumbler Ridge, before going to the school and killing five pupils and a teacher’s aide, then herself.

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This report by Wolfgang Depner, The Canadian Press, was first published March 25, 2026.