The Canadian “gun-person” created an online game that allowed players to simulate a mass shooting before Tuesday’s tragedy.
Jesse van Rootselaar, 18, built the virtual experience on Roblox before shooting dead his mother, stepbrother, five young students and a teacher in rural Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia.
Roblox confirmed it had “removed the user account connected to this horrifying incident as well as any content associated with the suspect”.
A spokesman added: “We are committed to fully supporting law enforcement in their investigation.”.
Van Rootselaar’s game involved a character taking up arms and shooting others in a shopping centre.
Roblox has more than 380 million players globally and allows users, including children under 13, to create virtual worlds and customised games.
The game is played by an estimated 61 per cent of British children between eight and 14.
It has long faced accusations that sexual predators use it to contact children.
The shooter, pictured here at age 13, created a video game simulating an attack
It also has been seen as tools for hate and terror groups to recruit, exploit, and radicalise youth, with researchers documenting user-generated games that mimic terrorist attacks.
Roblox said the Tumbler Ridge shooter’s killing simulator only had seven visitors as it could only be accessed through Roblox Studio, a separate app for designing games.
Van Rootselaar’s account was removed by Roblox on Wednesday, the day after the attack.
Canadian Police have not yet established a motive for the shooting but it confirmed there was a “history of police attendance” at the killer’s home, shared with his mother and four siblings.
LATEST ON CANADA’S TRAGEDY:
Photos from social media show the youth grinning with a rifle | FACEBOOKPolice visitations were related to mental health, firearms incidents, and even a fire started under the influence of drugs.
Van Rootselaar transitioned six years ago according to police, and dropped out of school about two years later.
The shooter’s victims were officially identified as 12-year-olds Zoey Benoit, Ticaria Lampert, Kylie Smith, Abel Mwansa, along with Ezekiel Schofield, 13, and teacher Shannda Aviugana-Durand, 39.
He also killed his mother Jennifer Strang, 39, and stepbrother Emmett, 11, at their homes, before continuing the rest of the shooting a kilometre away.
At a press conference, police said his mother held a firearms licence but had no guns registered to it.
“There are certain types of firearms unrestricted that do not have to be registered,” said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police spokesman, adding that the police force was trying to trace all the firearms used in the attack.
The mother of 12-year-old victim Ticaria Lampert condemned the attack and said she was “being the voice of a beautiful, strong and silenced daughter”.
Sarah Lampert described her daughter as “a blazing light in the darkness” who “loved her family fiercely”.
The town of fewer 2,500 held a vigil on Friday night, where Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke.
Mr Carney said at the vigil: “I know that no word from me or anyone can fill the silence in your homes tonight. And I won’t pretend otherwise.”
He added that the people of Canada were supporting the town.
The Canadian PM had planned to travel to Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference, but cancelled after the shocking events.
