US arrests suspect in connection with Tumbler Ridge school shooting

What the report says

US prosecutors have charged a Washington state resident in connection with the deadly February school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, according to Al Jazeera. The suspect, identified as 30-year-old James Cody Bryant, is accused of conspiracy to murder people in a foreign country. Authorities allege Bryant communicated online with the attacker for months before the assault and provided money and advice.

The case centers on the February 10 shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, which Canadian officials have described as one of the country’s worst mass shootings. Al Jazeera reports that the attacker, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, first killed her mother and half-brother, then drove to the school and opened fire. Six people were killed, including five students, and 27 others were injured before Van Rootselaar died by suicide at the scene.

US prosecutors say Bryant and Van Rootselaar used Discord to discuss how to carry out the attack and how to maximize attention afterward, including an alleged plan to livestream it. Officials also say Bryant gave practical help, such as guidance on transportation and cash for items connected to the attack. Prosecutors said Bryant admitted to investigators that she may have been the only person who could have stopped the shooter.

The arrest comes as the tragedy continues to spark broader legal and policy fallout in Canada and the technology sector. British Columbia has sued OpenAI in California, alleging ChatGPT played a role in the attack and seeking changes to how violent threats are handled. That case reflects wider questions about online radicalization, platform safety and law enforcement response.