American Man Charged in Alleged Plot to Assist with Deadly Canadian School Shooting

A 30-year-old American man has been arrested and charged in connection with a deadly school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, that occurred earlier this year. James Cody Bryant, of Bellingham, Washington, faces a charge of conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country.

Federal prosecutors allege that Bryant offered tactical advice, money, and technical assistance to 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar before she carried out the February 10 massacre. The attack resulted in the deaths of eight people, including five students and a teacher at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, as well as the shooter's mother and younger stepbrother at their residence. Van Rootselaar died by suicide at the scene.

According to the criminal complaint, Bryant and Van Rootselaar began communicating on Discord in August 2025, approximately six months before the shooting. Their discussions allegedly evolved from general online conversations to plans for killing multiple people in Canada. Prosecutors claim Bryant helped Van Rootselaar test equipment for a planned livestream of the attack, agreed to record and broadcast the event, and provided financial assistance for items related to the plot. He also allegedly advised her on methods to conceal their plan, such as deleting messages and using virtual private networks.

The complaint states that Bryant confirmed he was receiving the livestream shortly before the killings began. Prosecutors further allege that he advised Van Rootselaar on how to increase casualties and recommended firearms. He is also accused of sending her money to help purchase a lighter intended for use in constructing an explosive device.

Authorities became aware of the communication through an investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the FBI. The US Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington brought the conspiracy charge because the alleged planning occurred partly in Washington state, with the intended victims located in Canada. The charge carries a potential sentence of up to life in prison.

Prosecutors noted that the relationship between Bryant and Van Rootselaar was not entirely straightforward. The two reportedly met three years prior on a chat site called Omegle and had lost contact twice when Van Rootselaar was admitted to a mental health facility. Despite this, they communicated daily on Discord in the six months leading up to the shooting. During their communications, they reportedly discussed sending 3D-printed weapons across the US-Canada border. The text messages suggest Bryant initially proposed targeting a shopping center instead of a school and at times appeared to try to dissuade Van Rootselaar from carrying out the attack. However, he did not contact the police and ultimately agreed to assist with the livestream, stating he would not "snitch."

Following the killings at the residence, Van Rootselaar drove to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where she opened fire. Police reported that she used an improvised explosive device, fired through locked classroom doors, and exchanged gunfire with officers before her death. The eight victims killed in the attack were identified as educational assistant Shannda Aviugana-Durand, students Abel Mwansa, Ezekiel Schofield, Kylie Smith, Zoey Benoit, and Ticaria Lampert, as well as Jennifer Jacobs and her 11-year-old son, Emmett Jacobs.

The RCMP investigation has been ongoing for months, involving the examination of evidence, electronic devices, and online accounts. Investigators have reviewed statements from students, educators, and first responders and have collaborated with the FBI on digital forensic analysis. Court documents previously indicated that Van Rootselaar had "mental health problems" and was "fascinated by firearms."

The case is being investigated on both sides of the border, with the FBI, Homeland Security Investigations, and the RCMP cooperating. FBI Seattle Special Agent in Charge Mike Herrington stated that while no investigation can bring back the victims, both US and Canadian officials are committed to ensuring justice and holding perpetrators accountable. He commended the RCMP for their assistance in the investigation leading to Bryant's arrest.

The aftermath of the massacre has seen Tumbler Ridge continue to grapple with the loss, with the secondary school not yet returned to normal operations and the community requiring ongoing mental-health and victim-support services. Separately, the investigation has also touched upon legal disputes concerning what technology companies knew before the shooting, including litigation involving OpenAI related to Van Rootselaar's alleged use of ChatGPT. OpenAI stated that the chats did not meet their threshold for reporting to authorities as a credible or imminent plan for serious harm.