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US Man Arrested in Canada School Shooting Live Stream Plot
Confirmed
In Short: Federal authorities arrested James Codey Bryant, a 30-year-old from Washington state, on Tuesday for allegedly encouraging an 18-year-old suspect, Jesse Van Rootselaar, to commit one of the worst school shootings in Canada’s history.
According to Mike Herrington, FBI Seattle special agent in charge, Bryant agreed to live stream the attack to maximize notoriety for the shooter.
Van Rootselaar, who had a history of mental health problems, killed her mother and stepbrother before shooting dead a teacher and five young students at her former school in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia.
The live stream on Twitch was shut down after about 20 seconds, but without Bryant’s involvement, officials said the shooter might not have gone through with the crime.
Bryant allegedly offered money and 'technical advice' to Van Rootselaar for six months leading up to the killings, including advice on how to delete messages to keep the plot a secret.
The indictment obtained by CBC shows that Bryant and Van Rootselaar began conspiring in or before August 2025, with Bryant suggesting they find a way to delete their messages and use a VPN to avoid detection.
Bryant also advised Van Rootselaar on how to turn on the engine to reach the school and execute the attack.
Canadian police identified Van Rootselaar as the suspect in the massacre of eight people, including her mother, half-brother, and six children, making it the second-deadliest school shooting in Canada’s history.
The shooting comes months after Prime Minister Mark Carney warned that Canada was failing its Jewish community amid a surge in antisemitism.
A police officer was shot outside a synagogue in Ontario during Yom Kippur, and the attack was declared a targeted hate crime against the Jewish community.
Justice department officials have detained Bryant and allege he offered 'technical advice' to the primary suspect, and it is too soon to say whether Bryant could also face charges in Canada.
What's confirmed
- Watch Live: Chow and Bradford face off in Toronto mayoral debate SEATTLE (AP) — Federal authorities said Tuesday that they have arrested and charged a 30-year-old from Washington state with encouraging an 18-year-old to commit one of the worst school shootings in Canada’s history by offering to livestream the February attack, providing money and sharing advice on how to delete online messages to keep the plot a secret.
What's still developing
- WASHINGTON: US authorities arrested a person in Washington state on Tuesday who they accuse of providing advice and offering to live stream a deadly mass shooting carried out last year in Canada.
- It did reportedly close Van Rootselaar’s account, but she started a second one that was not closed.
- It had been known that Van Rootselaar had used ChatGPT to plan the attack, which took place in February.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney, in New York for the U.N. General Assembly, declined to comment on questions about the suspect’s former military service, but praised the wounded police officer, Jeff Smith, for his “heroic actions” and said “no effort will be spared” in the investigation.
- “If he hadn’t been there … you probably wouldn’t be talking to me right now,” Weddum said of Smith, praising the officer’s response.
- FILE - People pay their respects at a memorial on the steps of the Town Hall, following a vigil the previous day, in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada, Feb.
- A second officer arrived and joined the gunfight.