US Man Accused of Aiding Transgender Teen in Canadian Massacre Plot
James Cody Bryant faces federal charges for allegedly providing tactical advice, weapons, and financial support to Jesse Van Rootselaar before the school shooting.
A man from Washington state has been arrested and accused of aiding a transgender teenager in a planned massacre at a Canadian school, according to federal prosecutors. James Cody Bryant, 30, of Bellingham, Washington, faces a federal charge of conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country.
Prosecutors allege that Bryant communicated extensively with Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, through the online platform Discord from August 2025 until the shooting on February 10. During this period, Bryant allegedly provided tactical advice, recommended firearms, supplied money for items connected to the planned attack, and helped Van Rootselaar test equipment for a livestream intended to broadcast the massacre.
According to the US Attorney's Office for the Western District of Washington, Bryant also allegedly advised Van Rootselaar on concealing the plot, including deleting messages and using virtual private networks to hide online activity. He reportedly also provided advice on constructing a makeshift explosive device.
Bryant's case is unusual because the alleged conspiracy involved a planned crime in another country. He faces a potential sentence of up to life in prison if convicted. The US Attorney's Office stated that Bryant was arrested on Tuesday.
Van Rootselaar carried out a shooting on February 10, killing her mother and 11-year-old stepbrother at a family residence in Tumbler Ridge, a remote community in northeastern British Columbia. She then proceeded to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where she opened fire in the library, killing five students and an educational assistant.
Transcripts of the alleged communications between Bryant and Van Rootselaar were released by the FBI. At some points, Bryant appeared to be trying to talk Van Rootselaar out of killing innocents, but he also praised her "solid plans" for a mass killing at another point in their online exchanges.
The investigation into Bryant's alleged role is ongoing. The incident has drawn attention to the challenges of monitoring online communications for potential threats, especially those involving international plots.