A US man has been arrested as a suspected accomplice in a mass school shooting in Canada that resulted in the deaths of eight people, including six children. The US Department of Justice announced the detention of James Codey Bryant, 30, from western Washington state, on charges of conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country.

Background of the Incident

The shooting, which occurred in February, became notorious after the primary suspect, Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, allegedly discussed the attack with the AI chatbot ChatGPT. This incident marks the second-deadliest school shooting in Canadian history. Van Rootselaar has a documented history of mental health issues.

Allegations Against Bryant

According to the justice department, Bryant provided financial support and “technical advice” to Van Rootselaar for six months leading up to the attack. The authorities allege that:

  • Bryant sent Van Rootselaar approximately $100 for new shoes and $15 for a lighter.
  • The two suspects communicated through the now-defunct messaging service Omegle about three years prior to the shooting.
  • In August 2025, Bryant suggested they find a way to delete their messages and later recommended using a VPN to avoid detection.