A second suspect, James Codey Bryant, a 30‑year‑old resident of western Washington, has been arrested for allegedly conspiring to murder in a foreign country. The U.S. Department of Justice said Bryant supplied money and “technical advice” to the suspected shooter for six months before the attack.
The suspect in the February massacre of eight people—including a mother, her half‑brother and six children—is identified as Jesse Van Rootselaar, who has a documented history of mental health issues. The tragedy ranks as the second‑deadliest school shooting in Canadian history.
Van Rootselaar used the AI chatbot ChatGPT to plan the assault. OpenAI’s safety team flagged her after she discussed gun violence but did not notify law enforcement. The company closed her initial account, though she later opened a second one. Victims’ families and the province of British Columbia have filed lawsuits against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, alleging failure to report the dangerous behavior.
Authorities revealed that Van Rootselaar also corresponded with Bryant, a connection not previously disclosed. The two reportedly met on the now‑defunct messaging platform Omegle about three years before the shooting and maintained contact.
U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd and FBI Special Agent W. Mike Herrington said Bryant sent Van Rootselaar roughly $100 for shoes and about $15 for a lighter. There is no evidence the pair ever met in person.
An indictment obtained by CBC alleges that Bryant “knowingly and willfully” conspired with Van Rootselaar beginning in or before August 2025. Court documents show Bryant advised the pair to delete their messages in August and suggested using a VPN in mid‑December to avoid detection while posting a shooting video online.
Police noted that Bryant attempted to dissuade Van Rootselaar from carrying out the attack on several occasions but never contacted law enforcement. After Van Rootselaar killed her mother and brother, she was unable to start the family car; Bryant instructed her on how to turn on the engine, enabling her to reach the school and execute the assault.
Bryant also allegedly agreed to livestream the mass shooting. Authorities said it was unclear whether Van Rootselaar would have proceeded without the livestream.
Bryant, a U.S. citizen, will face prosecution in the United States under an FBI investigation that will continue in close coordination with Canadian authorities. It remains unclear whether he has legal representation.