A 30-year-old US citizen has been arrested and charged in connection with the February mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, Canada, in one of the country’s deadliest such attacks. US prosecutors in Washington state announced on Tuesday that James Cody Bryant faces a charge of conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country.&nbsp;The killings were carried out by Jesse Van Rootselaar, an 18-year-old transgender woman who first killed her mother and brother at the family home before shooting six more people at an elementary school in the small British Columbia mining community. According to a statement from the US Attorney’s Office, Van Rootselaar and Bryant had been communicating through Discord since August 2025.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-drone-strike-sets-oil-tanker-ablaze-off-russia-s-sochi-23-indian-crew-rescued-1791327690873">Ukraine drone strike sets oil tanker ablaze off Russia's Sochi, 23 Indian crew rescued</a>&nbsp;Prosecutors allege that Van Rootselaar told Bryant about her plans to kill multiple people. “Bryant agreed to record and broadcast Van Rootselaar's live stream of the murders,” the statement said, adding that the livestream was cut off only seconds after it appeared. US authorities further allege that Bryant actively assisted Van Rootselaar in preparing for the attack. “Bryant provided tactical advice on how to increase the carnage and what firearms to use; Bryant sent money to Van Rootselaar to purchase various items the shooter wanted in connection with the school attack,” the statement further continued.&nbsp;According to federal prosecutors, Bryant had multiple opportunities to alert law enforcement about Van Rootselaar’s plans but allegedly failed to do so. If convicted, Bryant could face a sentence of life imprisonment, according to the US Attorney. Van Rootselaar died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound as police entered the elementary school.&nbsp;Earlier, the Canadian province of British Columbia has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in a US federal court, alleging that the company failed to alert authorities about concerning interactions on ChatGPT before the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting. The lawsuit, filed follows an earlier apology from OpenAI over its failure to notify law enforcement about the ChatGPT account linked to Jessie Van Rootselaar before the 18-year-old killed eight people, including six children, in February 2026.

US citizen James Cody Bryant is charged over the Tumbler Ridge school shooting in Canada, accused of advising the shooter and funding attack supplies

A 30-year-old US citizen has been arrested and charged in connection with the February mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, Canada, in one of the country’s deadliest such attacks. US prosecutors in Washington state announced on Tuesday that James Cody Bryant faces a charge of conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country. The killings were carried out by Jesse Van Rootselaar, an 18-year-old transgender woman who first killed her mother and brother at the family home before shooting six more people at an elementary school in the small British Columbia mining community. According to a statement from the US Attorney’s Office, Van Rootselaar and Bryant had been communicating through Discord since August 2025. Also Read: Ukraine drone strike sets oil tanker ablaze off Russia's Sochi, 23 Indian crew rescued Prosecutors allege that Van Rootselaar told Bryant about her plans to kill multiple people. “Bryant agreed to record and broadcast Van Rootselaar's live stream of the murders,” the statement said, adding that the livestream was cut off only seconds after it appeared. US authorities further allege that Bryant actively assisted Van Rootselaar in preparing for the attack. “Bryant provided tactical advice on how to increase the carnage and what firearms to use; Bryant sent money to Van Rootselaar to purchase various items the shooter wanted in connection with the school attack,” the statement further continued. According to federal prosecutors, Bryant had multiple opportunities to alert law enforcement about Van Rootselaar’s plans but allegedly failed to do so. If convicted, Bryant could face a sentence of life imprisonment, according to the US Attorney. Van Rootselaar died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound as police entered the elementary school. Earlier, the Canadian province of British Columbia has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI in a US federal court, alleging that the company failed to alert authorities about concerning interactions on ChatGPT before the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting. The lawsuit, filed follows an earlier apology from OpenAI over its failure to notify law enforcement about the ChatGPT account linked to Jessie Van Rootselaar before the 18-year-old killed eight people, including six children, in February 2026.

A US man has been charged over an alleged role in the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting, accused of advising the shooter and sending money

US citizen charged over funding, advising Tumbler Ridge shooter, likely to be sentenced to life imprisonment

The Canadian province of British Columbia has sued OpenAI in a US federal court, alleging that the company failed to notify authorities about concerning interactions on ChatGPT before the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting. The lawsuit was filed on Monday and comes after OpenAI previously apologised for not alerting law enforcement about the ChatGPT account of Jessie Van Rootselaar before the 18-year-old killed eight people, including six children, in February 2026.&nbsp;British Columbia Attorney General Niki Sharma said the case raises important questions about the responsibilities of technology companies when they become aware of credible threats of serious violence. Families of people killed or injured in the shooting have also filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI. Media reports previously revealed that OpenAI's safety team had flagged Van Rootselaar's ChatGPT activity months before the attack because of references to gun violence. However, the company did not alert local authorities at the time.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/this-is-normally-what-toddlers-do-why-a-psychiatrist-is-raising-fresh-questions-about-trump-s-recent-behaviour-1790050479959">'This is normally what toddlers do': Why a psychiatrist is raising fresh questions about Trump’s recent behaviour</a>&nbsp;In April, OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman apologised to the victims' families. "I am deeply sorry that we did not alert law enforcement," Altman wrote in an open letter. &nbsp;"To date, OpenAI has not taken meaningful steps to address the concerns raised by survivors, families and the Tumbler Ridge community," Sharma said in a statement. "The company still has an opportunity to demonstrate accountability by strengthening safeguards, improving transparency and taking concrete action to help prevent similar tragedies in the future."&nbsp;Speaking to reporters on Monday, Sharma said she had not reviewed the contents of the OpenAI chats. "We have asked OpenAI to disclose these chats. They have refused. We should all be asking them: Why?" she said, according to CBC. Sharma said the lawsuit was filed in California because the alleged decision not to report the shooter's ChatGPT account took place in the state, according to news agency AFP. She also told reporters that any financial damages awarded to the province would be used to help rebuild the secondary school.

British Columbia sues OpenAI over alleged failure to alert authorities about concerning ChatGPT activity before the deadly Tumbler Ridge shooting

The Canadian province of British Columbia has sued OpenAI in a US federal court, alleging that the company failed to notify authorities about concerning interactions on ChatGPT before the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting. The lawsuit was filed on Monday and comes after OpenAI previously apologised for not alerting law enforcement about the ChatGPT account of Jessie Van Rootselaar before the 18-year-old killed eight people, including six children, in February 2026. British Columbia Attorney General Niki Sharma said the case raises important questions about the responsibilities of technology companies when they become aware of credible threats of serious violence. Families of people killed or injured in the shooting have also filed separate lawsuits against OpenAI. Media reports previously revealed that OpenAI's safety team had flagged Van Rootselaar's ChatGPT activity months before the attack because of references to gun violence. However, the company did not alert local authorities at the time. Also Read: 'This is normally what toddlers do': Why a psychiatrist is raising fresh questions about Trump’s recent behaviour In April, OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman apologised to the victims' families. "I am deeply sorry that we did not alert law enforcement," Altman wrote in an open letter. "To date, OpenAI has not taken meaningful steps to address the concerns raised by survivors, families and the Tumbler Ridge community," Sharma said in a statement. "The company still has an opportunity to demonstrate accountability by strengthening safeguards, improving transparency and taking concrete action to help prevent similar tragedies in the future." Speaking to reporters on Monday, Sharma said she had not reviewed the contents of the OpenAI chats. "We have asked OpenAI to disclose these chats. They have refused. We should all be asking them: Why?" she said, according to CBC. Sharma said the lawsuit was filed in California because the alleged decision not to report the shooter's ChatGPT account took place in the state, according to news agency AFP. She also told reporters that any financial damages awarded to the province would be used to help rebuild the secondary school.

British Columbia has sued OpenAI over its alleged failure to alert authorities about ChatGPT activity before the deadly Tumbler Ridge shooting

British Columbia sues OpenAI over alleged failure to warn authorities before Tumbler Ridge shooting

Police say the Canada school shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar was “hunting” victims in a rampage that left eight dead. From the first killings at home to the attack at a school, these are the most disturbing details to emerge so far. Scroll down for the full story.

Police say the Canada school shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar was “hunting” victims in a rampage that left eight dead. From the first killings at home to the attack at a school, these are the most disturbing details to emerge so far. Scroll down for the full story.

Canada trans shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar was 'hunting,' say police; Disturbing details of mass shooting continue to emerge

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US citizen charged over funding, advising Tumbler Ridge shooter, likely to be sentenced to life imprisonment

OpenAI sued by British Columbia over alleged missed warning before mass shooting

Canada trans shooter Jesse Rootselaar was 'hunting'? Disturbing details EMERGE