US resident charged with aiding Canadian school shooter who killed eight
In short
A 30-year-old Washington state resident, James Cody Bryant, was charged with conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country for allegedly helping plan the Feb. 10 school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. Prosecutors say Bryant advised the shooter, sent money and offered to livestream the attack, which killed eight people, including five children at a school. NBC News and ABC News describe Bryant's role differently: NBC, citing the Justice Department, says he repeatedly tried to talk the shooter out of it; ABC, citing prosecutors, says he encouraged the attack.
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A 30-year-old Washington state resident, James Cody Bryant, was charged with conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country for allegedly helping a Canadian teenager carry out a school shooting that killed eight people, U.S. prosecutors said. Bryant was arrested Tuesday, according to NBC News, and a federal criminal complaint was released the same day. Prosecutors in Seattle said he gave the shooter advice and money and offered to help livestream the killings. [ 2 , 3 ]
About 2 p.m. on Feb. 10, Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, killed her mother and 11-year-old stepbrother in the small British Columbia town of Tumbler Ridge, officials said. She then went to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where NBC News said she killed five children and a teacher, and ABC News said she killed five students and an educational assistant. Two other children were shot and seriously wounded, officials said. Van Rootselaar died by suicide during the attack, and the rampage was one of the deadliest shootings in Canada's history. [ 2 , 3 ]
The Justice Department said Bryant, who the FBI said identifies as female, had been in repeated contact with Van Rootselaar over Discord. Prosecutors alleged he gave tactical advice starting in August 2025, suggested the best places to shoot, sent money to purchase parts for an explosive device and helped her carry out a test run of the livestream. ABC News reported that authorities said the livestream failed and that the shooter also used an improvised explosive device to damage the school. [ 2 , 3 ]
The two outlets described Bryant's stance toward the attack differently. NBC News, citing the Justice Department, reported that Bryant tried several times to talk Van Rootselaar out of the attack but did not tell law enforcement. ABC News, citing federal prosecutors, said he encouraged her to carry out the attack and did nothing to stop it on the day. The acting U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington, Neil Floyd, said Bryant “had the information and ability to alert law enforcement, and even discussed that possibility with the shooter — but chose not to,” adding that “instead, he encouraged and offered assistance to a murderer.” [ 2 , 3 ]
According to NBC News, the two met about three years before the shooting on the former random video chat service Omegle. Prosecutors said Van Rootselaar communicated with Bryant every day in the six months leading up to the attack and on the day itself, telling him she had killed two family members and was going to carry out the shooting. [ 2 , 3 ]
The Wall Street Journal reported that federal prosecutors said a Washington resident helped plan the February shooting, which killed eight people. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The case turns a Canadian mass shooting into a U.S. federal prosecution, testing how far American authorities will pursue a defendant accused of coaching an attack abroad from his home. It also raises questions about how online contacts between the two went unreported to law enforcement before the killings.
Key facts
- James Cody Bryant, 30, of Washington state, was charged with conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country, prosecutors said. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Bryant was arrested Tuesday, according to NBC News, and a criminal complaint was released Tuesday. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The Feb. 10 shootings in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia killed eight people, including five children at a secondary school. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Prosecutors said Bryant had repeated contact with the shooter over Discord, gave advice and money, and offered to help livestream the killings. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, killed her mother and 11-year-old stepbrother at home and then attacked Tumbler Ridge Secondary School before dying by suicide, officials said. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Bryant had the information and ability to alert law enforcement and discussed that possibility with the shooter but chose not to, acting U.S. attorney Neil Floyd said. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- A Washington state resident was charged in connection with the Feb. 10 shootings in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The Feb. 10 attack killed eight people, including five children at a school. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Prosecutors said the defendant gave the shooter advice and money and offered to help livestream the attack. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The shooter died by suicide during the attack. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Bryant encouraged the attack or tried to dissuade the shooter. NBC News, citing the Justice Department, says Bryant tried several times to talk Van Rootselaar out of the attack; ABC News, citing federal prosecutors, says he encouraged her to carry it out and did nothing to stop it.
- Whether Bryant was arrested on Tuesday. Only NBC News states the arrest; ABC News reports only that he was charged and that a complaint was released Tuesday.
- The role of the adult killed at the school. NBC News describes a teacher, while ABC News describes an educational assistant.
- Whether the shooter used an explosive device. Only ABC News reports that an improvised explosive device was used to damage the school; other documents do not mention it.
- What happens next in the case, or possible penalties. The documents describe the charge and complaint but not court dates, plea or sentencing exposure.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Feb. 10: the shooter kills her mother and 11-year-old stepbrother at their Tumbler Ridge home and then attacks Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, officials said. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Prosecutors allege Bryant began offering tactical advice, including suggestions on where to shoot. [ 3 ]
- The Wall Street Journal publishes its report on the charge. [ 1 ]
- NBC News reports Bryant was arrested Tuesday and charged; the Justice Department says he offered advice, money and livestreaming help. [ 2 ]
- ABC News reports a federal criminal complaint released Tuesday alleges Bryant encouraged the attack. [ 3 ]