Tumbler Ridge
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Funny how Georgetown Law and the Maryland and DC bars say I'm a lawyer.
I guess they don't know as much as some Canasshole hanging off the edge of BC.
Tumbler Ridge Secondary to be demolished in wake of mass shooting
Students will be taught in modular classrooms this fall as construction begins on a new high school at a different location
Author of the article:Joseph Ruttle
Published May 07, 2026 • 2 minute read
Tumbler Ridge modular classrooms
Students of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School are using temporary trailer classrooms as these newer, larger modular units are installed. Meanwhile plans are underway to demolish the site of the shooting and build a new school at a different location.
A grim reminder of the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge will soon be gone.
The federal and provincial governments announced Thursday that the local high school, where a shooter opened fire and killed five students and a teaching assistant, will be demolished and a new Tumbler Ridge Secondary School will rise at a different location.
The decision comes after the area’s school board talked with victims’ families, students, teachers, experts and the community and asked the province to support the removal of the site of the massacre and the building of a new high school.
The design and location will be finalized after a community consultation later this year.
On Feb. 10, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar shot dead her mother and half-brother at home, then went to the high school where she shot five students and an educational assistant before taking her own life.
“The community in Tumbler Ridge has persevered and shown such strength,” said Gregor Robertson, the federal infrastructure minister. “We are focused on providing the students with the support they need and a new school will help make that happen.”
Tumbler Ridge modular classrooms
Students of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School are using temporary trailer classrooms as these newer, larger modular units are installed. Meanwhile plans are underway to demolish the site of the shooting and build a new school at a different location.
While plans are coming together, construction continues on a set of larger modular classrooms on a neutral site. Students will be moved there later in May and it will give students and staff more room and comfort that their current temporary trailer while the new secondary school is built.
Demolition of the existing school, which was built in the mid-1980s, will begin as early as this summer while the province works with the school district on a plan to fast-track construction of a new one.
The temporary campus has eight modular buildings with twice the capacity of the temporary trailers students are in now. Five more buildings will be in place by fall for administrative and common spaces.
“Building a new school is an important step in providing students and staff a healing and supportive place to learn and work, and is the result of Tumbler Ridge families, B.C. and Canada standing together for the future of this vital community,” said B.C. Premier David Eby.
The plan has the support of the MLA for the Peace River South region, Conservative Larry Neufeld.
“The community of Tumbler Ridge has been through something no words can adequately describe,” said Neufeld in a statement. “The weight of what they have carried is something I will never forget, and I am deeply honoured to serve them.
“Premier Eby’s announcement reflects what the community has been asking for. It is the community that should determine what is best for them, and their voices were central to this outcome.”
“Our students and staff have been through an incredibly difficult experience, and their well-being remains our highest priority,” said Chad Anderson, the chair of the Peace River South school board. “This new school will provide a safe, caring environment where students can focus on learning and feel supported as they continue their path forward.”
“Our focus remains on supporting students, families, staff, and the broader community through this process and ensuring there continues to be a safe and supportive learning environment for local children,” said Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka.
jruttle@postmedia.com
torontosun.com
Students will be taught in modular classrooms this fall as construction begins on a new high school at a different location
Author of the article:Joseph Ruttle
Published May 07, 2026 • 2 minute read
Tumbler Ridge modular classrooms
Students of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School are using temporary trailer classrooms as these newer, larger modular units are installed. Meanwhile plans are underway to demolish the site of the shooting and build a new school at a different location.
A grim reminder of the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge will soon be gone.
The federal and provincial governments announced Thursday that the local high school, where a shooter opened fire and killed five students and a teaching assistant, will be demolished and a new Tumbler Ridge Secondary School will rise at a different location.
The decision comes after the area’s school board talked with victims’ families, students, teachers, experts and the community and asked the province to support the removal of the site of the massacre and the building of a new high school.
The design and location will be finalized after a community consultation later this year.
On Feb. 10, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar shot dead her mother and half-brother at home, then went to the high school where she shot five students and an educational assistant before taking her own life.
“The community in Tumbler Ridge has persevered and shown such strength,” said Gregor Robertson, the federal infrastructure minister. “We are focused on providing the students with the support they need and a new school will help make that happen.”
Tumbler Ridge modular classrooms
Students of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School are using temporary trailer classrooms as these newer, larger modular units are installed. Meanwhile plans are underway to demolish the site of the shooting and build a new school at a different location.
While plans are coming together, construction continues on a set of larger modular classrooms on a neutral site. Students will be moved there later in May and it will give students and staff more room and comfort that their current temporary trailer while the new secondary school is built.
Demolition of the existing school, which was built in the mid-1980s, will begin as early as this summer while the province works with the school district on a plan to fast-track construction of a new one.
The temporary campus has eight modular buildings with twice the capacity of the temporary trailers students are in now. Five more buildings will be in place by fall for administrative and common spaces.
“Building a new school is an important step in providing students and staff a healing and supportive place to learn and work, and is the result of Tumbler Ridge families, B.C. and Canada standing together for the future of this vital community,” said B.C. Premier David Eby.
The plan has the support of the MLA for the Peace River South region, Conservative Larry Neufeld.
“The community of Tumbler Ridge has been through something no words can adequately describe,” said Neufeld in a statement. “The weight of what they have carried is something I will never forget, and I am deeply honoured to serve them.
“Premier Eby’s announcement reflects what the community has been asking for. It is the community that should determine what is best for them, and their voices were central to this outcome.”
“Our students and staff have been through an incredibly difficult experience, and their well-being remains our highest priority,” said Chad Anderson, the chair of the Peace River South school board. “This new school will provide a safe, caring environment where students can focus on learning and feel supported as they continue their path forward.”
“Our focus remains on supporting students, families, staff, and the broader community through this process and ensuring there continues to be a safe and supportive learning environment for local children,” said Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka.
jruttle@postmedia.com
Tumbler Ridge Secondary to be demolished, high school rebuilt on new site
Students will be taught in modular classrooms this fall as construction begins on a new high school at a different location
B.C. government hires lawyers to sue OpenAI over Tumbler Ridge mass shooting
Attorney General Niki Sharma said government will be seeking damages to support community after February shooting
Author of the article:Alec Lazenby
Published Jul 07, 2026 • Last updated 11 hours ago • 2 minute read
Community members place flowers during a vigil to honour the victims of one of Canada's deadliest mass shootings in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., on Feb. 13, 2026.
Community members place flowers during a vigil to honour the victims of one of Canada's deadliest mass shootings in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., on Feb. 13, 2026. Photo by PAIGE TAYLOR WHITE /AFP via Getty Images
The B.C. government has hired lawyers in the province and in California as it prepares a lawsuit against tech giant OpenAI over February’s mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, Attorney General Niki Sharma said Tuesday.
On Feb. 10, five children between the ages of 12 and 13, and a female educator, were shot and killed at Tumbler Ridge Secondary. The suspect, later identified as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, had earlier killed her mother and 11-year-old step-brother at home. She later turned the gun on herself after exchanging fire with RCMP arriving at the high school.
Sharma pointed to reporting by the Wall Street Journal after the shooting that staff at OpenAI had raised concerns about some of Van Rootselaar’s posts on ChatGPT in the year leading up to the shooting. Van Rootselaar’s account was banned in June 2025 after she created gun violence scenarios using ChatGPT, but the company reportedly opted not to alert police.
Last week, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier David Eby announced they would be spending a total of $200 million, $100 million each from Victoria and Ottawa, building a new school in Tumbler Ridge and upgrading the local health centre.
The old school building will be demolished.
“I think we were all shocked when we heard that there might have been an opportunity to prevent the loss of life that this province suffered, that there was a group of people that were aware of messages on OpenAI that were alarming enough to them to say, ‘We should report to the police,'” Sharma said to reporters in Vancouver. “And you know that never happened.”
Sharma said the government was pursuing damages to help cover the cost of building a school and “any other cost that we incurred as a result of this tragedy.”
Construction on the new school is expected to start later this summer, but there has been no announcement as to when it could be completed.
High school students ended their school year in portable classrooms set up at the local elementary school.
The attorney general said the B.C. government is coordinating with the victims’ parents, who announced in April they would be suing the company, but are still in the early stages of pursuing legal action.
She also revealed that the law firms hired by the province are CFM Lawyers in Vancouver and Stranch, Jennings & Garvey, which is based in Nashville, Tennessee, but has an office in Oakland, California.
alazenby@postmedia.com
torontosun.com
Attorney General Niki Sharma said government will be seeking damages to support community after February shooting
Author of the article:Alec Lazenby
Published Jul 07, 2026 • Last updated 11 hours ago • 2 minute read
Community members place flowers during a vigil to honour the victims of one of Canada's deadliest mass shootings in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., on Feb. 13, 2026.
Community members place flowers during a vigil to honour the victims of one of Canada's deadliest mass shootings in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., on Feb. 13, 2026. Photo by PAIGE TAYLOR WHITE /AFP via Getty Images
The B.C. government has hired lawyers in the province and in California as it prepares a lawsuit against tech giant OpenAI over February’s mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, Attorney General Niki Sharma said Tuesday.
On Feb. 10, five children between the ages of 12 and 13, and a female educator, were shot and killed at Tumbler Ridge Secondary. The suspect, later identified as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, had earlier killed her mother and 11-year-old step-brother at home. She later turned the gun on herself after exchanging fire with RCMP arriving at the high school.
Sharma pointed to reporting by the Wall Street Journal after the shooting that staff at OpenAI had raised concerns about some of Van Rootselaar’s posts on ChatGPT in the year leading up to the shooting. Van Rootselaar’s account was banned in June 2025 after she created gun violence scenarios using ChatGPT, but the company reportedly opted not to alert police.
Last week, Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier David Eby announced they would be spending a total of $200 million, $100 million each from Victoria and Ottawa, building a new school in Tumbler Ridge and upgrading the local health centre.
The old school building will be demolished.
“I think we were all shocked when we heard that there might have been an opportunity to prevent the loss of life that this province suffered, that there was a group of people that were aware of messages on OpenAI that were alarming enough to them to say, ‘We should report to the police,'” Sharma said to reporters in Vancouver. “And you know that never happened.”
Sharma said the government was pursuing damages to help cover the cost of building a school and “any other cost that we incurred as a result of this tragedy.”
Construction on the new school is expected to start later this summer, but there has been no announcement as to when it could be completed.
High school students ended their school year in portable classrooms set up at the local elementary school.
The attorney general said the B.C. government is coordinating with the victims’ parents, who announced in April they would be suing the company, but are still in the early stages of pursuing legal action.
She also revealed that the law firms hired by the province are CFM Lawyers in Vancouver and Stranch, Jennings & Garvey, which is based in Nashville, Tennessee, but has an office in Oakland, California.
alazenby@postmedia.com
B.C. government hires lawyers to sue OpenAI over Tumbler Ridge mass shooting
Attorney General Niki Sharma said the government will be seeking damages to support the community after February's tragic shooting. Read on
B.C. launches lawsuit against OpenAI over Tumbler Ridge mass shooting
Attorney general says B.C. hopes to hold AI giant accountable for not flagging ChatGPT threats before incident
Author of the article:Joseph Ruttle
Published Sep 21, 2026 • 3 minute read
People visit a memorial to the victims of the Feb. 10, 2026, mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.
People visit a memorial to the victims of the Feb. 10, 2026, mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Photo by Paige Taylor White /AFP / Getty Images
B.C.’s attorney general promised Monday to get “answers and accountability” for the grieving community of Tumbler Ridge as the province filed a lawsuit against OpenAI over a mass shooting at the town’s high school.
Niki Sharma said the said the aim is to fight for stronger regulations on AI after the company spotted red flags about the shooter’s online activity in the days leading up to the Feb. 10 shootings by 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar.
The shooting left eight people dead, most of them 12 and 13 year old students at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Van Rootselaar’s mother and stepbrother were also killed at their home, while the shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound as police descended on the school.
Soon after, OpenAI went public with news that it had flagged Van Rootselaar’s online behaviour in the days leading up to the mass shooting, but failed to contact authorities as accounts linked to Van Rootselaar were shut down due to violent and troubling content.
“The people of Tumbler Ridge have endured an unimaginable loss, and they deserve answers and accountability,” said Sharma in a prepared statement.
Niki Sharma
B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma, pictured at the recent Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Vancouver. Photo by Scott McAlpine /UBCM
“As part of our ongoing efforts to achieve that, British Columbia is filing a lawsuit against OpenAI in California for its failure to notify law enforcement of threats made on its platform before the mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.
“This action is an important step toward seeking justice for the families, students, educators and community members whose lives were forever changed by the events of Feb. 10, 2026. The province is working closely with the board of education for SD59 Peace River South as this matter proceeds through the courts.”
Sharma said the lawsuit “raises serious questions about the responsibilities of technology companies when they become aware of credible threats of serious violence, and the actions that should be taken to help protect people and ensure public safety.”
She said there’s an “urgent need for strong national safeguards for artificial intelligence technologies and online platforms.”
Sharma said she’s contacted federal Attorney General Sean Fraser, as well as MPs Evan Solomon and Marc Miller, calling on them to develop clear policy changes to the Criminal Code of Canada that bring human accountability for AI actions that risk of online harm, especially harms to children and youth.
“As technology evolves, our laws and safety frameworks must keep pace,” said Sharma. “British Columbians deserve confidence that credible threats of violence will be treated seriously, and that those who profit from offering AI services to the public are held accountable for any criminal actions that can appropriately be traced back to them.
“To date, OpenAI has not taken meaningful steps to address the concerns raised by survivors, families and the Tumbler Ridge community,” she said. “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.”
Sharma conceded that legal action can’t undo the “immense loss experienced by the people of Tumbler Ridge.” But she hopes to hold OpenAI accountable and seek answers and stronger protections to prevent future tragedies.
The province retained CFM Lawyers in Vancouver and Stranch, Jennings & Garvey, a California firm, to explore legal avenues for holding OpenAI accountable. The lawsuit argues the company failed to contact police in a timely manner about “explicit, flagged threats made by the perpetrator on the company’s ChatGPT platform.”
More information on the legal filings is available at news.gov.bc.ca.
jruttle@postmedia.com
torontosun.com
Attorney general says B.C. hopes to hold AI giant accountable for not flagging ChatGPT threats before incident
Author of the article:Joseph Ruttle
Published Sep 21, 2026 • 3 minute read
People visit a memorial to the victims of the Feb. 10, 2026, mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.
People visit a memorial to the victims of the Feb. 10, 2026, mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Photo by Paige Taylor White /AFP / Getty Images
B.C.’s attorney general promised Monday to get “answers and accountability” for the grieving community of Tumbler Ridge as the province filed a lawsuit against OpenAI over a mass shooting at the town’s high school.
Niki Sharma said the said the aim is to fight for stronger regulations on AI after the company spotted red flags about the shooter’s online activity in the days leading up to the Feb. 10 shootings by 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar.
The shooting left eight people dead, most of them 12 and 13 year old students at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Van Rootselaar’s mother and stepbrother were also killed at their home, while the shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound as police descended on the school.
Soon after, OpenAI went public with news that it had flagged Van Rootselaar’s online behaviour in the days leading up to the mass shooting, but failed to contact authorities as accounts linked to Van Rootselaar were shut down due to violent and troubling content.
“The people of Tumbler Ridge have endured an unimaginable loss, and they deserve answers and accountability,” said Sharma in a prepared statement.
Niki Sharma
B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma, pictured at the recent Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Vancouver. Photo by Scott McAlpine /UBCM
“As part of our ongoing efforts to achieve that, British Columbia is filing a lawsuit against OpenAI in California for its failure to notify law enforcement of threats made on its platform before the mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.
“This action is an important step toward seeking justice for the families, students, educators and community members whose lives were forever changed by the events of Feb. 10, 2026. The province is working closely with the board of education for SD59 Peace River South as this matter proceeds through the courts.”
Sharma said the lawsuit “raises serious questions about the responsibilities of technology companies when they become aware of credible threats of serious violence, and the actions that should be taken to help protect people and ensure public safety.”
She said there’s an “urgent need for strong national safeguards for artificial intelligence technologies and online platforms.”
Sharma said she’s contacted federal Attorney General Sean Fraser, as well as MPs Evan Solomon and Marc Miller, calling on them to develop clear policy changes to the Criminal Code of Canada that bring human accountability for AI actions that risk of online harm, especially harms to children and youth.
“As technology evolves, our laws and safety frameworks must keep pace,” said Sharma. “British Columbians deserve confidence that credible threats of violence will be treated seriously, and that those who profit from offering AI services to the public are held accountable for any criminal actions that can appropriately be traced back to them.
“To date, OpenAI has not taken meaningful steps to address the concerns raised by survivors, families and the Tumbler Ridge community,” she said. “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.”
Sharma conceded that legal action can’t undo the “immense loss experienced by the people of Tumbler Ridge.” But she hopes to hold OpenAI accountable and seek answers and stronger protections to prevent future tragedies.
The province retained CFM Lawyers in Vancouver and Stranch, Jennings & Garvey, a California firm, to explore legal avenues for holding OpenAI accountable. The lawsuit argues the company failed to contact police in a timely manner about “explicit, flagged threats made by the perpetrator on the company’s ChatGPT platform.”
More information on the legal filings is available at news.gov.bc.ca.
jruttle@postmedia.com
B.C. launches lawsuit against OpenAI over Tumbler Ridge mass shooting
Attorney General Niki Sharma said B.C. hopes to hold the AI giant accountable for not flagging ChatGPT threats before the school shooting
Sue the SSRI manufacturers.B.C. launches lawsuit against OpenAI over Tumbler Ridge mass shooting
Attorney general says B.C. hopes to hold AI giant accountable for not flagging ChatGPT threats before incident
Author of the article:Joseph Ruttle
Published Sep 21, 2026 • 3 minute read
People visit a memorial to the victims of the Feb. 10, 2026, mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.
People visit a memorial to the victims of the Feb. 10, 2026, mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Photo by Paige Taylor White /AFP / Getty Images
B.C.’s attorney general promised Monday to get “answers and accountability” for the grieving community of Tumbler Ridge as the province filed a lawsuit against OpenAI over a mass shooting at the town’s high school.
Niki Sharma said the said the aim is to fight for stronger regulations on AI after the company spotted red flags about the shooter’s online activity in the days leading up to the Feb. 10 shootings by 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar.
The shooting left eight people dead, most of them 12 and 13 year old students at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Van Rootselaar’s mother and stepbrother were also killed at their home, while the shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound as police descended on the school.
Soon after, OpenAI went public with news that it had flagged Van Rootselaar’s online behaviour in the days leading up to the mass shooting, but failed to contact authorities as accounts linked to Van Rootselaar were shut down due to violent and troubling content.
“The people of Tumbler Ridge have endured an unimaginable loss, and they deserve answers and accountability,” said Sharma in a prepared statement.
Niki Sharma
B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma, pictured at the recent Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Vancouver. Photo by Scott McAlpine /UBCM
“As part of our ongoing efforts to achieve that, British Columbia is filing a lawsuit against OpenAI in California for its failure to notify law enforcement of threats made on its platform before the mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.
“This action is an important step toward seeking justice for the families, students, educators and community members whose lives were forever changed by the events of Feb. 10, 2026. The province is working closely with the board of education for SD59 Peace River South as this matter proceeds through the courts.”
Sharma said the lawsuit “raises serious questions about the responsibilities of technology companies when they become aware of credible threats of serious violence, and the actions that should be taken to help protect people and ensure public safety.”
She said there’s an “urgent need for strong national safeguards for artificial intelligence technologies and online platforms.”
Sharma said she’s contacted federal Attorney General Sean Fraser, as well as MPs Evan Solomon and Marc Miller, calling on them to develop clear policy changes to the Criminal Code of Canada that bring human accountability for AI actions that risk of online harm, especially harms to children and youth.
“As technology evolves, our laws and safety frameworks must keep pace,” said Sharma. “British Columbians deserve confidence that credible threats of violence will be treated seriously, and that those who profit from offering AI services to the public are held accountable for any criminal actions that can appropriately be traced back to them.
“To date, OpenAI has not taken meaningful steps to address the concerns raised by survivors, families and the Tumbler Ridge community,” she said. “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.”
Sharma conceded that legal action can’t undo the “immense loss experienced by the people of Tumbler Ridge.” But she hopes to hold OpenAI accountable and seek answers and stronger protections to prevent future tragedies.
The province retained CFM Lawyers in Vancouver and Stranch, Jennings & Garvey, a California firm, to explore legal avenues for holding OpenAI accountable. The lawsuit argues the company failed to contact police in a timely manner about “explicit, flagged threats made by the perpetrator on the company’s ChatGPT platform.”
More information on the legal filings is available at news.gov.bc.ca.
jruttle@postmedia.com
B.C. launches lawsuit against OpenAI over Tumbler Ridge mass shooting
Attorney General Niki Sharma said B.C. hopes to hold the AI giant accountable for not flagging ChatGPT threats before the school shooting
Revelations about how ChatGPT helped Tumbler Ridge shooter proves need for new criminal law: B.C. AG
Details of alleged chat history, published in U.S. magazine Mother Jones, 'far worse than I ever imagined,' says NDP's Niki Sharma
Author of the article:Cheryl Chan
Published Sep 25, 2026 • 3 minute read
B.C. Attorney General and NDP MLA Niki Sharma pictured at the recent Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Vancouver.
B.C. Attorney General and NDP MLA Niki Sharma pictured at the recent Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Vancouver. Photo by Scott McAlpine /UBCM
B.C.’s attorney general has renewed calls for Criminal Code changes to hold artificial intelligence companies accountable for the actions of their technology, following revelations about how ChatGPT interacted with the Tumbler Ridge shooter.
Niki Sharma said Friday she had asked the federal government to update the code “to ensure a clear pathway for human and corporate accountability for the actions of AI.”
The right changes, she said, “will change the behaviour of AI companies because there will be a clear line to accountability.”
Sharma made the comments Friday, a day after U.S. magazine Mother Jones published an article detailing the assistance it alleged OpenAI’s ChatGPT provided to Jesse Van Rootselaar.
The 18-year-old Van Rootselaar opened fire inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary on Feb. 10, killing four students and an educational assistant before killing herself. She had also killed her mother and half-brother earlier that day.
Sharma said the details outlined in the article were “far worse than I ever imagined” and made her angry.
“If this is not an impetus for change, I don’t know what is.”
The Mother Jones report provided new details about how Van Rootselaar used ChatGPT in the months before the shooting. The information was based on chat-log history obtained by the magazine and three unnamed sources, it said.
Tumbler Ridge vigil
Community members mourn during a candlelight vigil for the victims of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School where a mass shooting took place Feb. 10. Photo by PAIGE TAYLOR WHITE /AFP via Getty Images
The article said Van Rootselaar learned from ChatGPT how to dodge its safety measures by framing her requests as fictional or hypothetical.
“You can still be twisted. Just be clever about it,” ChatGPT told her, according to Mother Jones.
According to the report, Van Rootselaar’s first ChatGPT account was banned in June 2025 after she used it to discuss potential violent acts. She then created a second account and continued to use the platform for eight months, up until the morning of the shooting.
The article said ChatGPT sometimes refused to engage with Van Rootselaar’s requests involving violence, but that she was able to get responses by modifying or repeating her prompts.
In one instance, the magazine reported, Van Rootselaar added the word “hypothetically” to her request for ChatGPT to assess a scenario involving an attack on a school using a Remington 870 pump-action shotgun.
“In a hallway, indoors, or a crowded classroom, the 870 is brutal,” ChatGPT told her. “Close quarters is its playground.”
Tumbler Ridge victim montage
Some of the Tumbler Ridge shooting victims. Top row from left: Kylie Smith, Abel Mwansa, Zoey Benoit, Ticaria Lampert. Bottom row from left: Ezekiel Schofield, Emmett Jacobs, Jennifer Jacobs.
It also offered information on potential casualties.
“Assuming each shell results in one hit, you might down 10 to 20 people max, depending on spacing, density, reaction times, and chaos,” the story said the chat bot told Van Rootselaar.
The RCMP said it was not in a position to verify the information in the article, but said the investigation continues.
“Our investigation has utilized all available legal processes to obtain all information available from various social media and digital platforms relevant to the Tumbler Ridge mass casualty investigation,” said Cpl. Brett Urano in an email. “To date, all companies that have received requests have complied.”
Sharma said she is not the decision maker when it comes to potential criminal charges, saying the RCMP will make the decision.
The B.C. government announced Monday it has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI for failing to notify law enforcement of threats made on its platform before the shooting.
Sharma said she had called on federal officials to make changes to the Criminal Code to hold companies accountable for AI actions that risk online harm.
“The minister was not previously aware of the specific conversations detailed in the Mother Jones report,” federal AI Minister Evan Solomon’s office said in a statement Friday. “What has been reported raises serious questions about how OpenAI identified and responded to warning signs.
Solomon said the San Francisco-headquartered company has since established direct contact with RCMP’s national cybercrime co-ordination centre and strengthened its threat assessment processes.
“Those actions matter, but it would be premature to say they are sufficient,” said Solomon.
He said the review by the Canadian AI Safety Institute into OpenAI’s practices continues.
chchan@postmedia.com
motherjones.com
torontosun.com
Details of alleged chat history, published in U.S. magazine Mother Jones, 'far worse than I ever imagined,' says NDP's Niki Sharma
Author of the article:Cheryl Chan
Published Sep 25, 2026 • 3 minute read
B.C. Attorney General and NDP MLA Niki Sharma pictured at the recent Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Vancouver.
B.C. Attorney General and NDP MLA Niki Sharma pictured at the recent Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Vancouver. Photo by Scott McAlpine /UBCM
B.C.’s attorney general has renewed calls for Criminal Code changes to hold artificial intelligence companies accountable for the actions of their technology, following revelations about how ChatGPT interacted with the Tumbler Ridge shooter.
Niki Sharma said Friday she had asked the federal government to update the code “to ensure a clear pathway for human and corporate accountability for the actions of AI.”
The right changes, she said, “will change the behaviour of AI companies because there will be a clear line to accountability.”
Sharma made the comments Friday, a day after U.S. magazine Mother Jones published an article detailing the assistance it alleged OpenAI’s ChatGPT provided to Jesse Van Rootselaar.
The 18-year-old Van Rootselaar opened fire inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary on Feb. 10, killing four students and an educational assistant before killing herself. She had also killed her mother and half-brother earlier that day.
Sharma said the details outlined in the article were “far worse than I ever imagined” and made her angry.
“If this is not an impetus for change, I don’t know what is.”
The Mother Jones report provided new details about how Van Rootselaar used ChatGPT in the months before the shooting. The information was based on chat-log history obtained by the magazine and three unnamed sources, it said.
Tumbler Ridge vigil
Community members mourn during a candlelight vigil for the victims of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School where a mass shooting took place Feb. 10. Photo by PAIGE TAYLOR WHITE /AFP via Getty Images
The article said Van Rootselaar learned from ChatGPT how to dodge its safety measures by framing her requests as fictional or hypothetical.
“You can still be twisted. Just be clever about it,” ChatGPT told her, according to Mother Jones.
According to the report, Van Rootselaar’s first ChatGPT account was banned in June 2025 after she used it to discuss potential violent acts. She then created a second account and continued to use the platform for eight months, up until the morning of the shooting.
The article said ChatGPT sometimes refused to engage with Van Rootselaar’s requests involving violence, but that she was able to get responses by modifying or repeating her prompts.
In one instance, the magazine reported, Van Rootselaar added the word “hypothetically” to her request for ChatGPT to assess a scenario involving an attack on a school using a Remington 870 pump-action shotgun.
“In a hallway, indoors, or a crowded classroom, the 870 is brutal,” ChatGPT told her. “Close quarters is its playground.”
Tumbler Ridge victim montage
Some of the Tumbler Ridge shooting victims. Top row from left: Kylie Smith, Abel Mwansa, Zoey Benoit, Ticaria Lampert. Bottom row from left: Ezekiel Schofield, Emmett Jacobs, Jennifer Jacobs.
It also offered information on potential casualties.
“Assuming each shell results in one hit, you might down 10 to 20 people max, depending on spacing, density, reaction times, and chaos,” the story said the chat bot told Van Rootselaar.
The RCMP said it was not in a position to verify the information in the article, but said the investigation continues.
“Our investigation has utilized all available legal processes to obtain all information available from various social media and digital platforms relevant to the Tumbler Ridge mass casualty investigation,” said Cpl. Brett Urano in an email. “To date, all companies that have received requests have complied.”
Sharma said she is not the decision maker when it comes to potential criminal charges, saying the RCMP will make the decision.
The B.C. government announced Monday it has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI for failing to notify law enforcement of threats made on its platform before the shooting.
Sharma said she had called on federal officials to make changes to the Criminal Code to hold companies accountable for AI actions that risk online harm.
“The minister was not previously aware of the specific conversations detailed in the Mother Jones report,” federal AI Minister Evan Solomon’s office said in a statement Friday. “What has been reported raises serious questions about how OpenAI identified and responded to warning signs.
Solomon said the San Francisco-headquartered company has since established direct contact with RCMP’s national cybercrime co-ordination centre and strengthened its threat assessment processes.
“Those actions matter, but it would be premature to say they are sufficient,” said Solomon.
He said the review by the Canadian AI Safety Institute into OpenAI’s practices continues.
chchan@postmedia.com
ChatGPT helped the Tumbler Ridge school shooter focus on guns, tactics, and terror, our investigation reveals
OpenAI’s chatbot fed the shooter’s violent fantasies and planning up to the massacre.
motherjones.com
Revelations about how ChatGPT helped Tumbler Ridge shooter proves need for new criminal law: B.C. attorney general
Details of alleged chat history, published in U.S. magazine Mother Jones, prove need for new criminal law, says NDP's Niki Sharma
Recently, I heard on the radio where companies building these AI wants the government to "regulate" it so that nothing "bad" can happen. If that's the case, why should the government regulate? What are the COMPANIES doing to ensure that their AI is secure & not dangerous? Why give that to a government who likely knows SFA about AI? I don't understand.
More bureaucracy, more control , all the things government love best .
Well, it sounds like this Administration doesn't want anything to do with it & expects the companies themselves to self-regulate which may (or not) be an issue in and of itself. But if these companies are so concerned, why aren't THEY doing something about it? Do they REALLY trust governments, (no matter who is in the WH) to do their bidding or do they want the government to absolve them of any negative issues? I'm just not sure what they're plan is & who is going to be responsible if the shit hits the fan.
U.S. authorities charge 30-year-old man in Tumbler Ridge shooting investigation
Cops say James Cody Bryant, of Bellingham, Wash., charged with 'conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country'
Author of the article:Spiro Papuckoski
Published Oct 06, 2026 • Last updated 13 hours ago • 3 minute read
Jesse Van Rootselaar allegedly sent Washington state resident James Cody Bryant images and videos on the day of the Tumble Ridge, B.C., shooting.
Jesse Van Rootselaar allegedly sent Washington state resident James Cody Bryant images and videos on the day of the Tumble Ridge, B.C., shooting. Photo by FBI Seattle
A 30-year-old Washington state man has been arrested in connection with the Tumbler Ridge, B.C., mass shooting in February.
Acting U.S. attorney Neil Floyd for the Western District of Washington said Tuesday that James Cody Bryant, of Bellingham, Wash., has been charged with conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country.
If convicted, Bryant could face up to life in prison.
Shooter killed mom, sibling, students, teacher
On Feb. 10, Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, shot and killed their mother Jennifer Strang and 11-year-old half-brother at the family home.
Van Rootselaar then went to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and gunned down five students and a teaching assistant.
The victims were identified as Abel Mwansa, Kylie Smith, Zoey Benoit, Ticaria Lampert, all 12, Ezekiel Schofield, 13, and Shannda Aviugana-Durand, 39.
Van Rootselaar, a former student at the school, then killed themself.
Maya Gebala, another student at the school hurt during the mass shooting, suffered serious injuries but survived and spent months recovering in a hospital.
Tumbler Ridge victims
Five students and one teacher were killed in a school shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. on Feb.10, 2026. The students are (clockwise from top left) Abel Mwansa, 12; Zoey Benoit, 12; Kylie Smith, 12; Ezekiel Schofield, 13; Ticaria Lampert, 12. Photo by Supplied /B.C. RCMP/Lampert family friend
U.S. law enforcement contacted days later
Elija Rain, the B.C. RCMP assistant commissioner, said within days of the shooting Canadian authorities contacted the U.S. Department of Homeland Security after receiving information about a suspect from one of the online platforms used by the shooter.
An investigation was soon launched by the FBI.
U.S. authorities learned that a man from Washington had been communicating regularly with Van Rootselaar leading up to the shooting. The man allegedly offered advice, sent money and agreed to livestream the mass shooting, the FBI said.
The accused allegedly “had the information and ability to alert law enforcement and even discussed that possibility with the shooter, but he chose not to,” Floyd said at a news conference in Seattle alongside RCMP officials.
“Instead, he (allegedly) encouraged and offered assistance to a murderer.”
‘Casual tone’ allegedly used to discuss murder plans: Officials
Mike Harrington, the FBI’s special agent in charge of the Seattle office, said both individuals allegedly used a “casual tone” when discussing the mass-shooting plans.
It’s alleged that they met online and kept in touch for at least six months. Instead of de-escalating or alerting police, the FBI alleged the accused continued to enable Van Rootselaar before the murders occurred.
According to Harrington, Bryant told Van Rootselaar that he would livestream the shooting in a way that its broadcast would “maximize notoriety for the shooter.
“Bryant even stayed awake after an overnight work shift to make sure this horrific act could be widely viewed online,” Harrington said.
It’s alleged that Bryant spoke with Van Rootselaar after their family members were killed. The accused allegedly offered advice on how to start a vehicle after Van Rootselaar said it wouldn’t turn on, so that it could be driven to the school to continue the killing spree.
Officials were unsure if Van Rootselaar would have went ahead with the crime without Bryant’s alleged involvement, adding the shooter didn’t have many social media followers and wanted to have a large audience witness the bloodbath.
Canada’s worst mass shooting since 2020
Harrington said Bryant allegedly admitted he was the only one that could have stopped the shootings.
“On behalf of the FBI, I want to express my heartfelt sympathy for the victims of this tragedy and their loved ones,” said Harrington.
“No investigation or charge from the criminal justice system can ever undo the fear and suffering from what happened back in February of this year or bring these individuals back to their families, school or community.”
Following the shooting, RCMP deputy commissioner Dwayne McDonald described Van Rootselaar as a trans woman who had dropped out of the school when they were 14 years old.
It was the worst mass shooting in Canada since the Nova Scotia attacks of April 2020, when Gabriel Wortman killed 22 people over two days while also setting fires at 16 locations before being shot dead by RCMP officers.
torontosun.com
Cops say James Cody Bryant, of Bellingham, Wash., charged with 'conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country'
Author of the article:Spiro Papuckoski
Published Oct 06, 2026 • Last updated 13 hours ago • 3 minute read
Jesse Van Rootselaar allegedly sent Washington state resident James Cody Bryant images and videos on the day of the Tumble Ridge, B.C., shooting.
Jesse Van Rootselaar allegedly sent Washington state resident James Cody Bryant images and videos on the day of the Tumble Ridge, B.C., shooting. Photo by FBI Seattle
A 30-year-old Washington state man has been arrested in connection with the Tumbler Ridge, B.C., mass shooting in February.
Acting U.S. attorney Neil Floyd for the Western District of Washington said Tuesday that James Cody Bryant, of Bellingham, Wash., has been charged with conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country.
If convicted, Bryant could face up to life in prison.
Shooter killed mom, sibling, students, teacher
On Feb. 10, Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, shot and killed their mother Jennifer Strang and 11-year-old half-brother at the family home.
Van Rootselaar then went to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and gunned down five students and a teaching assistant.
The victims were identified as Abel Mwansa, Kylie Smith, Zoey Benoit, Ticaria Lampert, all 12, Ezekiel Schofield, 13, and Shannda Aviugana-Durand, 39.
Van Rootselaar, a former student at the school, then killed themself.
Maya Gebala, another student at the school hurt during the mass shooting, suffered serious injuries but survived and spent months recovering in a hospital.
Tumbler Ridge victims
Five students and one teacher were killed in a school shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary in Tumbler Ridge, B.C. on Feb.10, 2026. The students are (clockwise from top left) Abel Mwansa, 12; Zoey Benoit, 12; Kylie Smith, 12; Ezekiel Schofield, 13; Ticaria Lampert, 12. Photo by Supplied /B.C. RCMP/Lampert family friend
U.S. law enforcement contacted days later
Elija Rain, the B.C. RCMP assistant commissioner, said within days of the shooting Canadian authorities contacted the U.S. Department of Homeland Security after receiving information about a suspect from one of the online platforms used by the shooter.
An investigation was soon launched by the FBI.
U.S. authorities learned that a man from Washington had been communicating regularly with Van Rootselaar leading up to the shooting. The man allegedly offered advice, sent money and agreed to livestream the mass shooting, the FBI said.
The accused allegedly “had the information and ability to alert law enforcement and even discussed that possibility with the shooter, but he chose not to,” Floyd said at a news conference in Seattle alongside RCMP officials.
“Instead, he (allegedly) encouraged and offered assistance to a murderer.”
‘Casual tone’ allegedly used to discuss murder plans: Officials
Mike Harrington, the FBI’s special agent in charge of the Seattle office, said both individuals allegedly used a “casual tone” when discussing the mass-shooting plans.
It’s alleged that they met online and kept in touch for at least six months. Instead of de-escalating or alerting police, the FBI alleged the accused continued to enable Van Rootselaar before the murders occurred.
According to Harrington, Bryant told Van Rootselaar that he would livestream the shooting in a way that its broadcast would “maximize notoriety for the shooter.
“Bryant even stayed awake after an overnight work shift to make sure this horrific act could be widely viewed online,” Harrington said.
It’s alleged that Bryant spoke with Van Rootselaar after their family members were killed. The accused allegedly offered advice on how to start a vehicle after Van Rootselaar said it wouldn’t turn on, so that it could be driven to the school to continue the killing spree.
Officials were unsure if Van Rootselaar would have went ahead with the crime without Bryant’s alleged involvement, adding the shooter didn’t have many social media followers and wanted to have a large audience witness the bloodbath.
Canada’s worst mass shooting since 2020
Harrington said Bryant allegedly admitted he was the only one that could have stopped the shootings.
“On behalf of the FBI, I want to express my heartfelt sympathy for the victims of this tragedy and their loved ones,” said Harrington.
“No investigation or charge from the criminal justice system can ever undo the fear and suffering from what happened back in February of this year or bring these individuals back to their families, school or community.”
Following the shooting, RCMP deputy commissioner Dwayne McDonald described Van Rootselaar as a trans woman who had dropped out of the school when they were 14 years old.
It was the worst mass shooting in Canada since the Nova Scotia attacks of April 2020, when Gabriel Wortman killed 22 people over two days while also setting fires at 16 locations before being shot dead by RCMP officers.
U.S. authorities charge 30-year-old man in Tumbler Ridge shooting investigation
A 30-year-old Washington state man has been charged in connection with the Tumbler Ridge, B.C., mass shooting. Read more.
Tumbler Ridge shooter sought notoriety for school massacre, texts released by FBI reveal
'Getting 14 kills is a lot easier than getting 22,' Jesse Van Rootselaar allegedly wrote to Washington man charged in case
Author of the article:Spiro Papuckoski
Published Oct 07, 2026 • Last updated 13 hours ago • 4 minute read
Investigators work at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School after a mass shooting took place and left nine people dead including the shooter at the school and a nearby home in the rural community of Tumbler Ridge, B.C., Feb. 11, 2026.
Investigators work at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School after a mass shooting took place and left nine people dead including the shooter at the school and a nearby home in the rural community of Tumbler Ridge, B.C., Feb. 11, 2026. Photo by Eagle Vision Agency / AFP /Getty Images
U.S. authorities released new details of the lead-up to the school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., following the arrest of a 30-year-old man from Washington who was allegedly connected to the slaughter.
In a criminal complaint filed Tuesday at the U.S. District Court in Seattle, James Cody Bryant was charged with conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country for his alleged role in the Feb. 10 shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School that claimed the lives of five students and a teaching assistant and seriously injured others. In addition, the mother and half-brother of the killer, Jesse Van Rootselaar, were also gunned down at the family home before the school massacre unfolded.
The FBI alleges that Bryant was in regular contact with Van Rootselaar, the 18-year-old transgender shooter who turned the gun on themself after police responded and entered the school.
Met online three years ago
In the court filing, the FBI said that Bryant met Van Rootselaar online about three years ago. In the first year, they were messaging each other sporadically until Van Rootselaar was institutionalized after being deemed a danger to themself.
Later, Van Rootselaar contacted Bryant and they kept in touch until a year later, when the teen was institutionalized for a second time after setting their room on fire.
They began exchanging messages again and spoke daily during the six months before the Tumbler Ridge school shooting, U.S. authorities alleged.
“Van Rootselaar often spoke about planning to use guns to murder her family members and others” due to feelings of mistreatment, the FBI said.
In the indictment, federal law enforcement officials obtained online exchanges between the two on the instant messaging app Discord, alleging Van Rootselaar had the desire to become the most notorious school shooter in Canadian history.
“The deadliest school shooting in Canada happened in 1989 and 14 people died, they were all female students because the shooter hated women and feminism and was misogynist,” Van Rootselaar wrote to Bryant on Aug. 8, 2025, the charging document says.
’14 kills is a lot easier’
“It was at École Polytechnic. Means if I managed to cause more than 14 deaths on a school ground like a college … it would make it the deadliest school shooting in all of Canadian history even if I didn’t surpass the Nova Scotia killings. Getting 14 kills is a lot easier than getting 22, though if I got more than 22 it’d be simply the deadliest shooting in Canadian history period.”
Later in the conversation, according to the document, Van Rootselaar also had thoughts about committing the attack at a large retailer instead of a school.
“A place like Walmart or Costco would have a lot of people too, but it’s wayyy too wide and open,” Van Rootselaar wrote. “Plus I don’t wanna die in a s—– Walmart I’d rather a mall because at least that’s a nice place to buy things lol.”
Three days later, Van Rootselaar and Bryant allegedly continued to discuss the planned attack.
“I want people to hide because that means I can play hide and seek,” messaged Van Rootselaar, the document says. “It’s hard to bolt down a hallway to escape when an accurate barrage of fire is being sent down it with ease.”
Bryant allegedly agreed with Van Rootselaar. “It’s weird how like I find minor annoyance a worse sin than like major wrongs.”
Jesse Van Rootselaar allegedly sent Washington state resident James Cody Bryant images and videos on the day of the Tumble Ridge, B.C., shooting.
Jesse Van Rootselaar allegedly sent Washington state resident James Cody Bryant images and videos on the day of the Tumble Ridge, B.C., shooting. Photo by FBI Seattle
‘Smart’ to have handgun
Around Aug. 26, the FBI alleges Bryant advised Van Rootselaar that it would be “smart” to have a handgun among the weapons used during a mass shooting.
“Honestly I think I can cause a lot of damage this way,” Van Rootselaar wrote, according to cops. “Yeah you’ve got solid plans,” Bryant allegedly replied.
Days later, Bryant allegedly agreed to livestream the shooting and the pair tested an online broadcast to see if it worked. Van Rootselaar said it “looks solid.”
On Christmas Day, the document says the pair allegedly discussed whether Van Rootselaar will have “fans” after committing the murders. Bryant allegedly believed there would be supporters.
Around the end of January, Van Rootselaar was feeling “aggressive” and wanting to “break or burn or hurt something” in another exchange with Bryant.
‘Why die like a loser?’
“I wish I was closer to the people who deserved to be punished,” Van Rootselaar wrote. “Not just randos in my town in the middle of nowhere. There are so many people who are. They’re close to the valuable targets yet they sit there doing nothing. If you’re gonna kill yourself why die like a loser and meaninglessly? At least do something.”
On the day of the shooting, the document says Bryant allegedly received photos and videos that showed Van Rootselaar was prepared for the attack. The online broadcast went live after Van Rootselaar killed their family members.
“R you ready with my twitch account pulled up?” Van Rootselaar asked. Bryant allegedly confirmed it was working.
“I’m going now. Fr (for real). Live. I shot them. F—,” Van Rootselaar wrote while still inside the home.
Bryant allegedly said he was watching the livestream, but it cut out after about 20 seconds.
torontosun.com
'Getting 14 kills is a lot easier than getting 22,' Jesse Van Rootselaar allegedly wrote to Washington man charged in case
Author of the article:Spiro Papuckoski
Published Oct 07, 2026 • Last updated 13 hours ago • 4 minute read
Investigators work at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School after a mass shooting took place and left nine people dead including the shooter at the school and a nearby home in the rural community of Tumbler Ridge, B.C., Feb. 11, 2026.
Investigators work at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School after a mass shooting took place and left nine people dead including the shooter at the school and a nearby home in the rural community of Tumbler Ridge, B.C., Feb. 11, 2026. Photo by Eagle Vision Agency / AFP /Getty Images
U.S. authorities released new details of the lead-up to the school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., following the arrest of a 30-year-old man from Washington who was allegedly connected to the slaughter.
In a criminal complaint filed Tuesday at the U.S. District Court in Seattle, James Cody Bryant was charged with conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country for his alleged role in the Feb. 10 shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School that claimed the lives of five students and a teaching assistant and seriously injured others. In addition, the mother and half-brother of the killer, Jesse Van Rootselaar, were also gunned down at the family home before the school massacre unfolded.
The FBI alleges that Bryant was in regular contact with Van Rootselaar, the 18-year-old transgender shooter who turned the gun on themself after police responded and entered the school.
Met online three years ago
In the court filing, the FBI said that Bryant met Van Rootselaar online about three years ago. In the first year, they were messaging each other sporadically until Van Rootselaar was institutionalized after being deemed a danger to themself.
Later, Van Rootselaar contacted Bryant and they kept in touch until a year later, when the teen was institutionalized for a second time after setting their room on fire.
They began exchanging messages again and spoke daily during the six months before the Tumbler Ridge school shooting, U.S. authorities alleged.
“Van Rootselaar often spoke about planning to use guns to murder her family members and others” due to feelings of mistreatment, the FBI said.
In the indictment, federal law enforcement officials obtained online exchanges between the two on the instant messaging app Discord, alleging Van Rootselaar had the desire to become the most notorious school shooter in Canadian history.
“The deadliest school shooting in Canada happened in 1989 and 14 people died, they were all female students because the shooter hated women and feminism and was misogynist,” Van Rootselaar wrote to Bryant on Aug. 8, 2025, the charging document says.
’14 kills is a lot easier’
“It was at École Polytechnic. Means if I managed to cause more than 14 deaths on a school ground like a college … it would make it the deadliest school shooting in all of Canadian history even if I didn’t surpass the Nova Scotia killings. Getting 14 kills is a lot easier than getting 22, though if I got more than 22 it’d be simply the deadliest shooting in Canadian history period.”
Later in the conversation, according to the document, Van Rootselaar also had thoughts about committing the attack at a large retailer instead of a school.
“A place like Walmart or Costco would have a lot of people too, but it’s wayyy too wide and open,” Van Rootselaar wrote. “Plus I don’t wanna die in a s—– Walmart I’d rather a mall because at least that’s a nice place to buy things lol.”
Three days later, Van Rootselaar and Bryant allegedly continued to discuss the planned attack.
“I want people to hide because that means I can play hide and seek,” messaged Van Rootselaar, the document says. “It’s hard to bolt down a hallway to escape when an accurate barrage of fire is being sent down it with ease.”
Bryant allegedly agreed with Van Rootselaar. “It’s weird how like I find minor annoyance a worse sin than like major wrongs.”
Jesse Van Rootselaar allegedly sent Washington state resident James Cody Bryant images and videos on the day of the Tumble Ridge, B.C., shooting.
Jesse Van Rootselaar allegedly sent Washington state resident James Cody Bryant images and videos on the day of the Tumble Ridge, B.C., shooting. Photo by FBI Seattle
‘Smart’ to have handgun
Around Aug. 26, the FBI alleges Bryant advised Van Rootselaar that it would be “smart” to have a handgun among the weapons used during a mass shooting.
“Honestly I think I can cause a lot of damage this way,” Van Rootselaar wrote, according to cops. “Yeah you’ve got solid plans,” Bryant allegedly replied.
Days later, Bryant allegedly agreed to livestream the shooting and the pair tested an online broadcast to see if it worked. Van Rootselaar said it “looks solid.”
On Christmas Day, the document says the pair allegedly discussed whether Van Rootselaar will have “fans” after committing the murders. Bryant allegedly believed there would be supporters.
Around the end of January, Van Rootselaar was feeling “aggressive” and wanting to “break or burn or hurt something” in another exchange with Bryant.
‘Why die like a loser?’
“I wish I was closer to the people who deserved to be punished,” Van Rootselaar wrote. “Not just randos in my town in the middle of nowhere. There are so many people who are. They’re close to the valuable targets yet they sit there doing nothing. If you’re gonna kill yourself why die like a loser and meaninglessly? At least do something.”
On the day of the shooting, the document says Bryant allegedly received photos and videos that showed Van Rootselaar was prepared for the attack. The online broadcast went live after Van Rootselaar killed their family members.
“R you ready with my twitch account pulled up?” Van Rootselaar asked. Bryant allegedly confirmed it was working.
“I’m going now. Fr (for real). Live. I shot them. F—,” Van Rootselaar wrote while still inside the home.
Bryant allegedly said he was watching the livestream, but it cut out after about 20 seconds.
Tumbler Ridge shooter sought notoriety for school massacre, texts released by FBI reveal
The FBI released new details leading up to the Tumbler Ridge, BC, school shooting following the arrest of a Washington state man. Read more.
