Woman Arrested in US on Conspiracy Charges Linked to Canadian School Massacre

A transgender woman was arrested in Seattle on Tuesday, accused by federal prosecutors of conspiring with an 18-year-old transgender individual who carried out a deadly shooting at a Canadian school in February. James Cody Bryant, 30, of Bellingham, Washington, faces charges of conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country.

Prosecutors allege that Bryant, who reportedly goes by the name Melody, spent six months providing tactical advice, financial assistance, and technical support to Jesse Van Rootselaar, the shooter. The pair met years ago on the defunct chat site Omegle and later communicated through Discord.

According to an FBI complaint, Bryant and Van Rootselaar were in near-daily contact for the six months leading up to the attack. During this time, Bryant allegedly advised Van Rootselaar on how to maximize casualties, suggesting strategies like using a handgun and leveraging hallways for tactical advantage. Van Rootselaar allegedly informed Bryant about stealing firearms from her family and preparing for the massacre.

Authorities claim Bryant sent Van Rootselaar money for items related to the attack, including $150 for shoes and materials to decorate firearms. Prosecutors also stated that a lighter Bryant allegedly helped fund was repurposed into an explosive device detonated during the massacre.

Van Rootselaar’s mother and stepbrother were killed at their home on February 10. Afterward, according to the complaint, Van Rootselaar had trouble starting a vehicle to travel to the school. Bryant allegedly provided instructions via text message to help start the car. Van Rootselaar then proceeded to a secondary school, where she killed five children and an educational assistant, wounding 27 others. The shooter died by suicide at the scene.

Evidence presented in court suggests Bryant was communicating with Van Rootselaar during the attack. Prosecutors allege Van Rootselaar relied on Bryant to amplify a livestream of the event, as Van Rootselaar had limited social media followers. Bryant allegedly confirmed she was receiving the livestream and agreed to handle its broadcast shortly before the shooting.

While prosecutors allege Bryant sometimes tried to dissuade Van Rootselaar from carrying out the attack, they also contend that these warnings did not result in law enforcement being contacted. Bryant allegedly promised not to "snitch."

Bryant's sister described her as a "pretty shy person who kept to himself" and confirmed that Bryant was in the process of transitioning. Bryant is currently being held pending further legal proceedings, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for October 20. The charge of conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country carries a potential sentence of up to life in prison.