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US charges Washington state resident in Canada school shooting case
En breve
US authorities arrested and charged James Cody Bryant, 30, of Bellingham, Washington, with conspiring to murder people in a foreign country over the Feb. 10 school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. Officials say Bryant communicated with the 18-year-old shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, for six months beforehand, sending money, giving advice on firearms and agreeing to livestream the attack. Authorities say the attack killed two family members at home and five students and an educational assistant at the school, and that the shooter died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
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US federal authorities have arrested and charged James Cody Bryant, 30, of Bellingham, Washington, with conspiracy to murder people in a foreign country in connection with the February school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. Bryant was arrested Tuesday morning in Bellingham, according to CNN, and was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon in Seattle, according to a press release cited by CNN. The charge was announced by the US attorney's office in Seattle and the Justice Department. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 8 ]
Authorities say Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, killed her mother and stepbrother at home on Feb. 10 and then attacked Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, killing five students ages 12 and 13 and an educational assistant. Van Rootselaar was later found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. ABC News, The Boston Globe, CNN and Fox News said eight people were killed and 25 wounded, while The Associated Press said nine people died including the shooter. CNN described the attack as Canada's deadliest school shooting in decades. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 8 ]
According to officials, Bryant and Van Rootselaar first connected on the video chat site Omegle in 2023 and were in constant communication in the six months before the attack. The Seattle Times reported the two began corresponding on Discord in August 2025. Authorities allege Bryant agreed to livestream the attack and helped test equipment beforehand, and that Bryant sent money — a little over $100, according to CNN, primarily for a lighter to construct an explosive device and a pair of shoes. Officials also say Bryant advised on which firearms to use to increase the carnage and on hiding the plot by deleting online messages and using virtual private networks. Bryant tried at various points to talk Van Rootselaar out of the attack but did not contact law enforcement, authorities said. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 8 ]
“Bryant had the information and ability to alert law enforcement, and even discussed that possibility with the shooter, but he chose not to,” Acting US Attorney Neil Floyd said at a Seattle news conference, according to Fox News. “Instead, he encouraged and offered assistance to a murderer.” CNN reported Floyd said Bryant was allegedly “in repeated contact with” the shooter, “offering advice, sending money and even agreeing to live stream the horrific event” on Twitch. Fox News also reported Herrington said Bryant helped the shooter start a car after the first two killings. [ 6 , 8 ]
“I read a lot of court documents, including some that discuss incredibly heinous acts of violence, but this complaint was particularly difficult to read,” FBI Seattle special agent Mike Herrington said, “in part because of the casual tone these two individuals used when discussing the mass taking of innocent lives.” The Royal Canadian Mounted Police reached out to the FBI after one of the online platforms the two used contacted them, according to The Seattle Times. CNN reported the complaint was filed in court on Friday. [ 2 , 6 ]
CNN reported it had not yet confirmed whether Bryant has legal representation. ABC News and The Boston Globe said Bryant identifies as female. Fox News reported that Herrington confirmed both Bryant and Van Rootselaar identified as transgender, and that investigators have no indication what their transgender identities were, why they remained in contact, or whether they ever met in person. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 8 ]
Por qué importa
The case links a US federal conspiracy charge to Canada's deadliest school shooting in decades, and officials describe the plot as organised largely through online chat platforms and livestreaming. It also raises questions about how online contacts between two people in different countries can go unreported before an attack.
Datos clave
- James Cody Bryant, 30, of Bellingham, Washington, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to murder people in a foreign country. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 8 ]
- The charge relates to the Feb. 10 shooting at a high school in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 8 ]
- Officials say Bryant communicated with 18-year-old shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar for six months before the attack, sending money, offering advice on firearms and agreeing to livestream it. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 8 ]
- Authorities say Bryant did not contact law enforcement, although officials say Bryant tried at points to talk Van Rootselaar out of carrying out the attack. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 8 ]
- According to authorities, Van Rootselaar killed her mother and stepbrother at home and then five students ages 12 and 13 and an educational assistant at the school before dying of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
- Bryant was scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon in Seattle, according to a press release cited by CNN. [ 6 ]
Confirmado por varias fuentes
- James Cody Bryant, 30, of Bellingham, Washington, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to murder people in a foreign country, according to the US attorney's office in Seattle and the Justice Department. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 8 ]
- The charge is connected to the Feb. 10 school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. [ 2 , 3 , 6 , 8 ]
- Officials say Bryant was in contact with 18-year-old shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar in the six months before the attack. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 8 ]
- Officials say Bryant sent money, gave advice on which firearms to use, advised on hiding the plot using virtual private networks and deleting messages, and did not alert law enforcement. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 8 ]
- Authorities say the shooter killed two family members at home and then five students and an educational assistant at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, and was later found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 ]
Aún sin aclarar
- Whether Bryant has legal representation. CNN reported it had not yet confirmed whether Bryant has legal representation; no other document addresses it.
- The exact death toll of the attack. The Associated Press reported nine people died including the shooter, while ABC News, The Boston Globe, CNN and Fox News said eight people were killed and 25 wounded; the documents do not reconcile the figures.
- What the two people's transgender identities were, why they remained in contact and whether they ever met in person. Only Fox News reported Herrington saying investigators have no indication on these points.
- Whether Bryant helped the shooter start a car to reach the school after the first killings. Only Fox News reported this allegation, attributed to prosecutors and Herrington.
Qué dicen los medios locales
Cronología, hora local
- Feb. 10: authorities say Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, killed two family members at home and then attacked Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia, killing five students and an educational assistant before dying of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 6 , 8 ]
- The Associated Press reports that a Washington resident conspired with a Canadian school shooter, according to officials. [ 1 ]
- The Seattle Times reports a Bellingham resident was arrested and charged in connection with the shooting. [ 2 ]
- ABC News reports federal authorities arrested and charged a 30-year-old from Washington state; the US attorney's office in Seattle names James Cody Bryant of Bellingham. [ 3 ]
- CNN reports Bryant was arrested Tuesday morning in Bellingham and was due in court Tuesday afternoon in Seattle, and that Acting US Attorney Neil Floyd and FBI agent Mike Herrington spoke at a Seattle press conference. [ 6 ]
- Fox News reports the arrest, citing Acting US Attorney Neil Floyd and FBI Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Herrington. [ 8 ]