US arrest announced in connection with Canada’s Tumbler Ridge school shooting

Key Points:

• James Cody Bryant, 30, from Washington state, was arrested for conspiracy to murder in connection with the February school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, which resulted in eight deaths and dozens injured.
• Bryant allegedly maintained repeated contact with the shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, providing advice, money, and agreeing to livestream the attack, while discussing plans and items related to the massacre.
• The two met online three years prior and communicated via platforms like Omegle and Discord, discussing potential targets and logistics in a casual tone despite the severity of their plans.
• Canadian and US authorities identified both Bryant and Van Rootselaar as trans women, with Bryant refusing to send weapons but assisting in other ways, including technical support during the attack.
• The case revealed previously unknown involvement beyond the shooter, and follows a lawsuit against OpenAI by victims' families, alleging the shooter used ChatGPT to plan the attack, prompting an apology from OpenAI's CEO.