Tumbler Ridge mass murderer once created a mass shooting game in Roblox

The Roblox app login page displayed on a smartphone arranged in Sydney, Australia, on Wednesday Feb. 11, 2026. Australia's government ramped up pressure on Roblox Corp., summoning executives to explain reports that have alleged children as young as four years old have been sexually groomed on the gaming service. Photographer: Brent Lewin/Bloomberg via Getty Images — (Image credit: Getty Images)

Roblox says it has deleted the account belonging to the perpetrator of a mass murder that left nine people dead in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada. A game created by the suspect that enables players to carry out a mass shooting in a simulated shopping mall has also been deleted.

A 404 Media report says the Roblox account belonging to Jesse Van Rootselaar, and the game, were initially discovered by members of Kiwi Farms, a web forum known for doxxing and harassment campaigns. Clips of gameplay subsequently shared on social media show a player using various types of weaponry to kill NPCs wandering around inside a small shopping center.

"We have removed the user account connected to this horrifying incident as well as any content associated with the suspect,” a Roblox rep confirmed with 404 Media. "We are committed to fully supporting law enforcement in their investigation."

Concerns about a causal connection between videogames and real-world violence have persisted for years, despite repeated failures to find significant links between gaming and violent behavior. The Entertainment Software Rating Board was created as a result of political pressure over games like Mortal Kombat and Night Trap; more than 30 years later, US health and human services secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the government was investigating the causes of mass violence in the country, including "connections with videogames."

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.