Tumbler Ridge shooting investigation
The gist
British Columbia sued OpenAI over the Tumbler Ridge school shooting that killed eight.
The case tests what tech firms owe police when a chatbot flags violent plans.
How it unfolded
- Jun 2025OpenAI banned an account belonging to Jesse Van Rootselaar after the teen used ChatGPT to discuss potential acts of violence, including a mass shooting at a shopping mall; Van Rootselaar soon logged back on with a second account.
- Feb 10, 2026Eight people were killed at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School; the 18-year-old shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police. Investigators say he shot his mother and stepbrother at their home before killing a teacher and five students at his former school.
- Apr 2026OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman apologised to victims' families, writing in an open letter: "I am deeply sorry that we did not alert law enforcement."