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Back to back shootings prompt reflection on history of trans mass killers
Two transgender women killed eight in separate shootings, fueling debate on mental health links; only five of 5,748 mass shootings since 2012 involved transgender individuals, GLAAD said.
On Friday, Jesse Van Rootselaar murdered his mother and stepbrother before shooting five students and a teacher at Tumbler Ridge secondary school, and on Monday, Robert Dorgan, also known as Roberta Esposito, opened fire at an ice rink, killing his ex-wife and one of his children.
Police records show that officers visited Van Rootselaar's home multiple times over mental-health concerns, with apprehensions under the Mental Health Act and firearms seized on one occasion; a 2020 Yale study found people diagnosed with "gender incongruence" face higher rates of mood and anxiety disorders.
GLAAD pointed to national data showing transgender perpetrators are extremely rare, citing Gun Violence Archive figures with five confirmed cases among 5,748 mass shootings since 2012, including Robin Westman and Snochia Mosley.
McKee said 'Too many Rhode Islanders know what it feels like to lose a loved one to gun violence,' amid criticism from social media influencer Rev. Jordan Wells, as Democratic leaders defend the trans community.
Advocates warn that focusing on transgender identity risks further stigmatization while systemic problems persist, and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s medication claims lack supporting evidence.