HAMILTON, Canada

Canadian security officials on Wednesday identified the suspect in a deadly school shooting in British Columbia as an 18-year-old transgender teenager named Jesse Van Rootselaar.

British Columbia (BC) Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald told reporters during a news conference in Surrey that police were correcting earlier information about the number of fatalities.

"I'd like to correct some information that was shared yesterday and to clarify that nine people in total are deceased as a result of this incident," McDonald said.

Confirming that a female victim who was initially believed to have died is still alive, and adding that she is "alive and was one of the two female victims that were airlifted to the hospital. Both of those victims remain in serious condition."

McDonald identified the suspect as "an 18-year-old female by the name of Jesse van Rootselaar," adding: "We have a history of police attendance at the family residence. Some of those calls were related to mental health issues."

Police said earlier that the suspect was found dead inside the school from "a self-inflicted injury."

Asked about the suspect's gender identity, he said: "I can say that Jesse was born as a biological male who approximately … six years ago, began to transition to female, and identified as female, both socially and publicly."

McDonald added that the suspect “dropped out of school approximately four years ago and was not currently attending the school.”

He further confirmed that two victims found at a local residence were related to the suspect, noting that "the female adult victim is the mother of the suspect, and the youth male is the stepbrother," he said.

Sergeant Vanessa Munn of BC RCMP Media Relations also said the victims at the school included "a 39-year-old female educator, three 12-year-old female students, two male students, ages 12 and 13."

The two additional victims at the residence were "a 39-year-old female and an 11-year-old male," she said.

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Following the tragic shooting, Prime Minister Mark Carney ordered all flags on government buildings across the country to be flown at half-mast.

In the House of Commons, Carney, along with all lawmakers, held a moment of silence to honor the victims of the mass shooting.