The older, half-brother of the Tumbler Ridge shooter has been sentenced to three years in prison. Jacob Van Roostelaar pled guilty to aggravated assault in a Fort McMurray courtroom.
The Alberta Ministry of Justice said Van Roostellar was originally charged with attempted murder and break and enter. However, he entered into a plea deal for a lesser charge of aggravated assault.
The 22-year-old attacked a man with a knife sharpener in Fort McMurray in 2024.
After Van Roostelaar was charged, he was released from custody. He was originally approved to be living in Dawson Creek, but that was later changed to Tumbler Ridge, according to police.
Van Roostelaar was living under house arrest with his father in Tumbler Ridge, while awaiting trial in Alberta.
Staff Sgt. Sabrina Clayton said in early February he was not at the approved residence when police checked on him. A Canada-wide warrant was then issued on February 18th. He was later arrested in Sylvan Lake, Alberta.
According to Fort McMurray RCMP, Van Rootselaar is the older brother of Jesse Van Roostelaar, who killed eight people on February 10, including her mother and 11-year-old sibling in a mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge.
With credit for time served, Van Roostelaar has two years, and four months left to serve in jail.
Court records also show that Van Rootselaar was charged with unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon, possession of a weapon dangerous to the public, and five counts of failing to comply with a release order on February 19th in Red Deer, Alberta.
-With files from CTV Edmonton
Add comment
Comments