A 30-year-old American man has been arrested in connection with a deadly school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, earlier this year.
asserted
man → arrest → Ridge
James Cody Bryant, 30, of Bellingham, Washington, was charged today with conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country, after allegedly offering tactical advice, money and technical assistance before agreeing to help the shooter broadcast the lethal attack online.
uncertain
shooter → charge → attack
The arrest marks a fresh twist in an investigation that began after eight people were slain by 18-year-old transgender shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar, in the devastating February 10 massacre carried out in the small British Columbia community.
asserted
people → mark → community
Prosecutors allege Bryant and Van Rootselaar began conspiring through Discord in August 2025, roughly six months before the shooting.
asserted
Bryant → allege → shooting
What began online, authorities say, developed into discussions about killing multiple people in Canada.
asserted
authorities → begin → Canada
The criminal complaint alleges Bryant helped test equipment for a planned livestream, agreed to record and broadcast the attack, provided tactical advice and sent Van Rootselaar money for items connected to the plot.
asserted
Bryant → allege → plot
He allegedly advised her on how to conceal the plan, including deleting messages and using virtual private networks.
uncertain
He → advise → networks
Most chillingly, prosecutors allege Bryant confirmed he was receiving the livestream shortly before the carnage began.
asserted
carnage → allege → livestream
The complaint also alleges Bryant advised Van Rootselaar on how to increase the number of casualties and recommended firearms.
asserted
Bryant → allege → firearms
Prosecutors say he sent money to help her purchase a lighter that was intended for use in constructing an explosive device.
asserted
that → say → device
James 'Cody' Bryant, 30, of Bellingham, Washington, was arrested Tuesday after federal prosecutors accused him of communicating extensively with Jesse Van Rootselaar in the months before the February 10 attack that left eight victims dead and 25 others wounded
Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, opened fire in the library at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia on February 10, killing one teacher and five students
According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington, Bryant and Van Rootselaar began communicating through Discord by August 2025 about a plan to kill multiple people in Canada
Yet the complaint describes a relationship that was not entirely straightforward.
uncertain
that → arrest → relationship
According to federal law enforcement, the pair met three years ago on a chat site named Omegle, losing touch twice while Van Rootselaar was admitted to a mental health facility.
uncertain
Rootselaar → accord → facility
They communicated daily on the app Discord in the six months before the mass shooting.
asserted
They → communicate → shooting
They discussed, among other things, sending 3D printed weapons over the US-Canada border.
asserted
They → discuss → border
The text messages appear to show that Bryant initially suggested targeting a shopping center instead of a school.
uncertain
Bryant → appear → center
Authorities allege Bryant sometimes tried to persuade Van Rootselaar not to carry out the attack.
asserted
Bryant → allege → attack
He nevertheless did not contact police, prosecutors say, and ultimately agreed to assist with the livestream stating he would not 'snitch.'
asserted
he → contact → livestream
Van Rootselaar’s violent spree began at a residence, where her mother and 11-year-old stepbrother were slaughtered.
asserted
mother → begin → residence
She then drove to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, where she opened fire at the school, killing five children – all aged 12 or 13 – and 39-year-old educational assistant Shannda Aviugana-Durand.
asserted
all → drive → children
The other two victims, 39-year-old Jennifer Jacobs and her 11-year-old son, Emmett Jacobs, were killed at the residence.
asserted
victims → kill → residence
The eight victims were the people killed in the heinous attack.
asserted
victims → kill → attack
Van Rootselaar also died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, bringing the total number of deaths to nine.
asserted
Rootselaar → die → nine
Police say Van Rootselaar used an improvised explosive device at the school, fired through locked classroom doors and exchanged gunfire with officers before her death.
asserted
Rootselaar → say → death
Van Rootselaar seen pictured happily gripping a rifle
Prosecutors allege Bryant allegedly provided tactical advice, recommended firearms, supplied money for items connected to the planned attack and helped Van Rootselaar test equipment for a livestream that was intended to broadcast the massacre
He also allegedly advised her on concealing the plot, including deleting messages and using virtual private networks to hide online activity as well as advising her on constructing a makeshift explosive device
On February 10, Van Rootselaar first killed her mother and 11-year-old stepbrother at a family residence in Tumbler Ridge, a remote community in northeastern British Columbia.
uncertain
Rootselaar → see → Columbia
She then drove toward Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.
asserted
She → drive → School
Police say she opened fire at the school, killing five children and an educational assistant.
asserted
she → say → children
Bryant’s case is unusual because the alleged conspiracy involved a planned crime in another country.
asserted
conspiracy → allege → country
He faces a federal charge of conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country, an offense that carries a potential sentence of up to life in prison
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)’s investigation has continued for months, with investigators examining physical evidence, electronic devices and online accounts.
asserted
investigators → face → evidence
By July, Mounties said they had reviewed more than 100 statements from students, educators and first responders and were working with the FBI on digital forensic analysis.
asserted
they → say → analysis
They also said the possibility of further charges had not been ruled out.
asserted
possibility → say → charges
Previously released court documents have provided further insight into the investigation.
asserted
documents → release → investigation
An RCMP investigator described Van Rootselaar as having 'mental health problems' and being 'fascinated by firearms,' while investigators traced her online activity and seized electronic devices.
asserted
investigators → describe → devices
The digital evidence has become increasingly significant.
asserted
evidence → become → ?
Investigators have examined social-media accounts and other online communications as they attempted to understand how the attack was planned and whether anyone else knew about it.
asserted
anyone → examine → it
Tuesday’s case now alleges that Bryant was one such person – and that the relationship went substantially further than simply knowing an attack was being contemplated.
asserted
attack → allege → ?
Prosecutors say Bryant was communicating with Van Rootselaar as she prepared for the killings and even helped her overcome a practical problem immediately before she travelled to the school.
asserted
she → say → school
According to the complaint, after killing her relatives, Van Rootselaar was unable to start a family vehicle.
uncertain
Rootselaar → accord → vehicle
Bryant allegedly advised her on getting it running so she could continue to the school.
uncertain
she → advise → school
The case is now being investigated on both sides of the border.
asserted
case → investigate → border
The FBI worked with Homeland Security Investigations and the RCMP, with American prosecutors bringing the conspiracy charge because the alleged planning occurred partly in Washington while the intended killings were in Canada.
asserted
killings → work → Canada
…and 11 more, not listed.
The Aporia
