A false link between a Canadian school shooting and the shooter’s transgender identity spread online, despite no evidence, fueling anti-trans backlash.

A school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, that killed nine people has been falsely linked to the shooter’s transgender identity, despite no evidence supporting such a connection. Misinformation spread rapidly online, fueled by public figures and social media, leading to increased anti-trans sentiment. Experts and advocates warn that associating transgender people with violence is harmful and baseless, emphasizing that trans individuals are vastly underrepresented in mass shootings. Authorities stress the investigation is ongoing, and the focus should remain on the victims, not stigmatizing marginalized communities.