A 30-year-old American man has been arrested in connection with a deadly school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, earlier this year. 

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.

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.

Prosecutors allege Bryant and Van Rootselaar began conspiring through Discord in August 2025, roughly six months before the shooting. What began online, authorities say, developed into discussions about killing multiple people in 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.

He allegedly advised her on how to conceal the plan, including deleting messages and using virtual private networks.

Most chillingly, prosecutors allege Bryant confirmed he was receiving the livestream shortly before the carnage began.

The complaint also alleges Bryant advised Van Rootselaar on how to increase the number of casualties and recommended firearms. Prosecutors say he sent money to help her purchase a lighter that was intended for use in constructing an explosive device.

Yet the complaint describes a relationship that was not entirely straightforward. 

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.

They communicated daily on the app Discord in the six months before the mass shooting. They discussed, among other things, sending 3D printed weapons over the US-Canada border.

The text messages appear to show that Bryant initially suggested targeting a shopping center instead of a school.

Authorities allege Bryant sometimes tried to persuade Van Rootselaar not to carry out the attack.

He nevertheless did not contact police, prosecutors say, and ultimately agreed to assist with the livestream stating he would not 'snitch.'

Van Rootselaar’s violent spree began at a residence, where her mother and 11-year-old stepbrother were slaughtered. 

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.

The five students were Abel Mwansa, Ezekiel Schofield, Kylie Smith, Zoey Benoit and Ticaria Lampert.

The other two victims, 39-year-old Jennifer Jacobs and her 11-year-old son, Emmett Jacobs, were killed at the residence.

The eight victims were the people killed in the heinous attack. Van Rootselaar also died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, bringing the total number of deaths to 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.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)’s investigation has continued for months, with investigators examining physical evidence, electronic devices and online accounts. 

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. They also said the possibility of further charges had not been ruled out.

Previously released court documents have provided further insight into the 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.

The digital evidence has become increasingly significant. 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.

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.

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.

According to the complaint, after killing her relatives, Van Rootselaar was unable to start a family vehicle. Bryant allegedly advised her on getting it running so she could continue to the school.

The case is now being investigated on both sides of the 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. The charge carries a potential sentence of up to life in prison.

Bryant’s arrest comes as Tumbler Ridge continues to deal with the aftermath of the massacre. The original secondary school has not returned to normal operation, and the community has faced an ongoing need for mental-health and victim-support services.

Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Seattle, said no investigation can bring the eight people killed to their families but he stated both US and Canadian officials are committed to bringing justice and holding the perpetrators accountable.

He praised the RCMP for their assistance throughout the investigation that has led to the charges announced today.

The investigation has also generated separate legal battles over what authorities and technology companies knew before the shooting, including litigation involving OpenAI over allegations concerning Van Rootselaar’s use of ChatGPT. 

The company said it didn’t alert authorities at the time because the chats did not meet the threshold of what it deems a credible or imminent plan for serious harm to others.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, however, previously apologized to the victims’ families.

'I am deeply sorry that we did not alert law enforcement,' Altman wrote in an open letter in April.

For investigators, however, the immediate question is now whether the alleged online relationship between Bryant and Van Rootselaar amounted to a criminal conspiracy.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Bryant's mother for comment.