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US man coached Canadian school shooter on maximising casualties but chose not to alert police, feds say

From the Newshound archive · first published 6 October 2026 · last updated 7 October 2026.

Jesse Van Rootselaar, who prosecutors say killed eight people and wounded 25 at a British Columbia school after James Cody Bryant allegedly spent six months grooming her and wiring her money to carry out the attack.
Jesse Van Rootselaar, who prosecutors say killed eight people and wounded 25 at a British Columbia school after James Cody Bryant allegedly spent six months grooming her and wiring her money to carry out the attack.
James Cody Bryant, 30, of Bellingham, Washington, whom prosecutors say agreed to livestream the shooting and helped Van Rootselaar start her car so she could reach a second location.
James Cody Bryant, 30, of Bellingham, Washington, whom prosecutors say agreed to livestream the shooting and helped Van Rootselaar start her car so she could reach a second location.

James Cody Bryant, 30, of Bellingham, Washington, faces a federal conspiracy-to-murder charge for allegedly spending six months helping 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar plan the February attack on Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia that killed eight people and wounded 25 others. Bryant is accused of giving tactical advice aimed at maximising casualties, sending money, and agreeing to livestream the attack — yet never alerting police despite knowing the full details. Acting US Attorney Neil Floyd said Bryant 'encouraged and offered assistance to a murderer' when he had the power to stop it.

Bryant allegedly told Van Rootselaar that 'wide open spaces means numbers' and helped her get a car running to travel to the school after the killings had already started.

Prosecutors also allege Bryant transferred funds to purchase a lighter for use in an explosive device and instructed Van Rootselaar to delete messages and use VPNs to hide the plot.

Victims' families and British Columbia have sued OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman after ChatGPT was used to plan the attack and the company failed to alert police.

MoreThe IndependentFeds say woman coached teen on how to maximize Canada school massacreDaily Mail USAmerican man charged after allegedly helping trans shooter plan Canada school attack that left 5 kids and teacher deadThe GuardianUS man arrested as second suspect in Canada mass school shooting planned with ChatGPTThe IndependentAuthorities say a 30-year-old Washington man conspired with the shooter in February school attack in British ColumbiaReutersUS arrests person in connection to Canada school shooting, officials sayNY PostTransgender Washington resident fueled trans Canadian killer to execute mass shooting that left 8 deadAPWashington man conspired with Canadian school shooter before attack, officials sayFox News USTransgender Washington state resident accused of fueling deadly Canadian school massacre that killed 8: DOJ
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