The FBI has arrested a 30-year-old Washington state man accused of helping plot a deadly school shooting in rural British Columbia earlier this year, according to federal prosecutors who announced charges Tuesday.
James Cody Bryant, who identifies as transgender, was charged with conspiracy to murder a person in a foreign country, the Justice Department said at a press briefing. The Daily Wire first reported details of the criminal complaint, which was filed by FBI special agent Joseph Rico on October 2 and unsealed following the arrest.
Prosecutors allege that Bryant, who lived in Bellingham, Washington, agreed to livestream an attack planned by 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, whom he met online when Van Rootselaar was 15. The two communicated for years before the February 10, 2026, massacre at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.
The Attack and its Aftermath
According to authorities, Van Rootselaar murdered his mother and 11-year-old stepbrother at their home before driving to the school, where he killed five children and one school employee. Police initially referred to the assailant as a “gunperson”—a term that drew scrutiny at the time. Van Rootselaar died by suicide during the attack.
Eight people died in total. The victims included children and a school staff member, though officials have not released all names.
The FBI linked Bryant to the shooting after Discord provided messages between Van Rootselaar and an account tied to Bryant. Agents interviewed Bryant at his home on February 12, just two days after the shooting. Those messages, according to the complaint, show months of planning and coordination.
Alleged Tactical Advice and Livestream Plans
In August 2025, Bryant allegedly agreed to livestream the planned attack. He also offered Van Rootselaar specific tactical advice, telling him to avoid hallways and to carry a handgun. “Hallways also mean a lot of ways people can escape,” Bryant allegedly wrote, according to the complaint. “Corners to turn. Wide open spaces means numbers.”
Prosecutors say Bryant told Van Rootselaar, “you’ve got solid plans.” The complaint further states that Bryant admitted to helping Van Rootselaar test livestream equipment and knew Van Rootselaar had purchased a tactical chest rig to carry extra magazines.
“Bryant further confirmed that Bryant had been communicating with Van Rootselaar during the months prior to the murders and had viewed Van Rootselaar’s attempted livestream of the attack,” the complaint says.
Bryant also allegedly suggested in messages that the two use a VPN to hide their digital footprint and urged Van Rootselaar to delete their conversations. “I think we should find a way to delete all our messages,” Bryant said, according to the complaint.
At one point, Bryant allegedly proposed that Van Rootselaar target a church or a grocery store instead of a school, to avoid killing young children. Yet weeks before the murders, Bryant sent Van Rootselaar money for a lighter intended for an explosive device he planned to detonate during the attack, the complaint says. And repeatedly, messages show Bryant promising he would not “snitch” to law enforcement.
Pronoun Discrepancy in Court Filing
The criminal complaint filed earlier this month referred to Van Rootselaar using female pronouns. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington told The Daily Wire it plans to file an amended complaint with the correct pronouns—a detail that has raised questions about how federal officials document gender identity in high-profile cases.
Bryant remains in custody. No attorney information was immediately available. If convicted, he faces a potential life sentence, though formal sentencing guidelines will be determined by the court.
The Justice Department declined to comment beyond its public statements. The FBI’s Seattle field office referred questions to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
The case has renewed debate over how online radicalization and cross-border coordination are investigated, particularly when suspects communicate through encrypted or semi-private platforms like Discord. Canadian authorities have not announced additional arrests, but the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have said the investigation is ongoing.
For the community of Tumbler Ridge, a small town in northeastern British Columbia, the scars remain raw. Funerals for the victims were held in the weeks after the shooting, and a memorial fund was established to support survivors and first responders.
Bryant’s arrest marks the first time U.S. authorities have charged someone in connection with the Canadian attack. Prosecutors say the investigation is active and further charges are possible.
Source: www.dailywire.com — https://www.dailywire.com/news/trans-identifying-american-arrested-in-connection-with-canadian-trans-school-shooting