Washington Man Charged With Conspiring to Murder in Tumbler Ridge School Shooting Case
On Tuesday, October 6, 2026, the U.S. Justice Department announced that James Cody Bryant, 30, of Bellingham, Washington, had been arrested that morning on a charge of conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country, in connection with the February 10, 2026, school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. CNN and the U.S. Attorney's Office said Bryant appeared in court in Seattle that afternoon, with a hearing set for October 20.
Prosecutors allege Bryant was in repeated contact with the 18-year-old shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, in the six months before the attack, offering advice, sending a little over $100, and agreeing to livestream the attack on Twitch. Acting U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd told a Seattle press conference the money was mainly for a lighter and a pair of shoes. The complaint also says the two discussed sending weapons, which Bryant refused. These are allegations not yet tested in court, and Bryant is presumed innocent.
The February 10 attack was Canada's deadliest school shooting in decades, leaving eight people dead, including six children, and dozens wounded. Van Rootselaar killed his mother and 11-year-old stepbrother at home, then five students and a staff member at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School before dying by suicide. The B.C. RCMP said Canadian authorities contacted U.S. Homeland Security soon after, based on information from a platform the attacker had used.
The case has again raised questions about the role of social and gaming platforms in extreme violence: the complaint cites chat logs on Discord and the timing of platform reporting. The RCMP said its investigation continues and other online contacts are being examined. For the small community of Tumbler Ridge, the October arrest means the case is far from closed, with legal proceedings now moving forward on both sides of the border.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 不列颠哥伦比亚省特朗普岭市政厅。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons，CC BY-SA 3.0
