An American man has been arrested over the Tumbler Ridge school shooting in British Columbia after prosecutors alleged he helped plan the attack, supplied money and tactical advice, and agreed to assist with broadcasting it online.
James Cody Bryant, 30, of Bellingham, Washington, faces a federal charge of conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country. The offence carries a potential sentence of up to life in prison.
US prosecutors allege Bryant communicated with Jesse Van Rootselaar through Discord for about six months before the February 10 attack, discussing plans to kill multiple people in Canada.
The complaint alleges that Bryant helped test equipment for a planned livestream, agreed to record and broadcast the shooting, recommended firearms and advised Van Rootselaar on how to increase the number of casualties.
He is also accused of sending money for items linked to the plot, including a lighter prosecutors say was intended for use in constructing an explosive device.
Bryant allegedly told Van Rootselaar how to conceal the plan by deleting messages and using virtual private networks. Prosecutors say he confirmed he was receiving the livestream shortly before the attack began.
The pair had reportedly met three years earlier on the chat site Omegle and lost contact twice while Van Rootselaar was admitted to a mental health facility. They later resumed communicating daily on Discord.
Messages cited by investigators appear to show Bryant initially suggesting a shopping centre as a target rather than a school. Authorities also allege that he sometimes tried to persuade Van Rootselaar not to carry out the attack.
However, prosecutors say he did not contact police and eventually agreed to help with the livestream, saying he would not “snitch”. The complaint further alleges that he advised Van Rootselaar after she was unable to start a family vehicle following the killings at her home.
The Tumbler Ridge school shooting
Van Rootselaar’s attack began at a residence in Tumbler Ridge, a remote community in north-eastern British Columbia, where her mother and 11-year-old stepbrother were killed.
She then travelled to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where police say she used an improvised explosive device, fired through locked classroom doors and exchanged gunfire with officers.
Five children, all aged 12 or 13, and 39-year-old educational assistant Shannda Aviugana-Durand were killed at the school. The children were named as Abel Mwansa, Ezekiel Schofield, Kylie Smith, Zoey Benoit and Ticaria Lampert.
The other victims were 39-year-old Jennifer Jacobs and her 11-year-old son, Emmett Jacobs. Van Rootselaar also died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, bringing the total number of deaths to nine.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigation has continued for months, with officers examining physical evidence, electronic devices and online accounts. By July, investigators said they had reviewed more than 100 statements from students, educators and first responders and were working with the FBI on digital forensic analysis.
The FBI worked with Homeland Security Investigations and the RCMP because the alleged planning took place partly in Washington while the intended killings were in Canada.
Mike Herrington, special agent in charge of FBI Seattle, said no investigation could bring the eight victims back to their families, but said US and Canadian officials were committed to securing justice and holding those responsible accountable.
Tumbler Ridge continues to deal with the aftermath of the massacre, with the original secondary school not having returned to normal operation and the community facing an ongoing need for mental-health and victim-support services.
