Washington resident arrested in connection to Tumbler Ridge school shooting tragedy

Content warning: Some readers may find the content of this article disturbing.

The Seattle branch of the FBI announced that an arrest had been made in connection with the tragic school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, BC.

James Cody Bryant, a 30-year-old Bellingham, Washington resident, has been arrested and charged with conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country for his alleged role in the February 10th school shooting. 

On February 10th, Van Rootselaar killed her mother and stepfather at her home and then drove to the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School where she shot and killed five students, aged 12 to 13, as well as an educational assistant. 

Investigators say Van Rootselaar used an improvised explosive device to damage the school and tried to get into other classrooms by firing through locked doors. 

She died after exchanging gunfire with police and ultimately shot herself, committing suicide.

According to the FBI, law enforcement learned Van Rootselaar had been in frequent communication with someone via the gaming platform Discord. 

US investigators identified this individual as Bryant, and discovered he had been communicating with her over Discord since August 2025 about her plan to kill multiple people in the shooting.

Bryant allegedly agreed to assist Van Rootselaar in a variety of ways, including by agreeing to record and broadcast Van Rootselaar’s live stream of the murders. 

The FBI found evidence that Bryant assisted Van Rootselaar in testing the livestreaming equipment to ensure it was functioning and would provide a viewable image of the planned killings. 

Furthermore, Bryant provided tactical advice on how to increase the carnage and what firearms to use and he sent money to Van Rootselaar to purchase various items, including a lighter that would be used to construct an explosive device detonated during the attack.

Other evidence collected by US investigators include messages from Bryant to Van Rootselaar in which he assured her he would not turn her in to law enforcement and would be there to handle the live streaming. 

Investigators added that on multiple occasions, Bryant tried to talk Van Rootselaar out of doing the attack, but ultimately, he did not contact law enforcement and agreed to handle the live streaming just minutes before the attack. 

“Even after Van Rootselaar had killed two family members, there was time to intervene before the school shooting,” said the FBI in a statement. 

“Van Rootselaar could not get the family car started to head to the school. Bryant gave advice about how to get the engine to turn over, allowing the shooter to put the school shooting plan in motion.”

The case was investigated by the FBI with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the RCMP.

Since the FBI announced Bryant’s arrest, Assistant Commissioner Elija Rain, acting commanding officer of the BC RCMP has released a statement. 

“Two hundred and thirty-eight days ago, the people of Tumbler Ridge, BC experienced a tragedy that forever changed the lives of families, friends, students, educators, first responders and the entire community,” said Rain. 

“Eight victims lost their lives, and countless others continue to carry the impact of that day.”

According to the FBI, conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country is punishable by up to life in prison.