James Cody Bryant, a United States citizen, was charged with conspiracy to murder people in a foreign country in connection with the deadly shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia. According to the indictment, Bryant’s alleged role was not that of a trigger‑puller but of a planner who communicated with the teenager who carried out the attack.
On February 10, 2026, eighteen‑year‑old Jesse Van Rootselaar opened fire at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School, killing five students and an educational assistant before taking her own life. Earlier that same day, Van Rootselaar’s mother and half‑brother were found dead at a nearby residence. The brief chronology notes the family killings and the school attack both occurring on 2026-02-10.
U.S. court denies bail to alleged Tumbler Ridge shooting conspirator James Bryant https://t.co/emTJMdsneD
Prosecutors said Bryant gave Van Rootselaar tactical advice on how to carry out the shooting, helped test a livestream of the murders, and assisted in starting the vehicle used to reach the school. They also stated that Bryant had been in daily communication with Van Rootselaar for months while they planned the mass murder, a point emphasized by Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg.
They warned that anyone who helps plan a mass shooting and then watches the killings unfold without reporting the plot is a continuing threat.
On October 13, 2026, a U.S. District Court in Seattle held a bail hearing for James Bryant. Federal prosecutors argued that Bryant should remain in custody because of the seriousness of the offense, the strength of the evidence, and the danger he posed to the community if released. They warned that anyone who helps plan a mass shooting and then watches the killings unfold without reporting the plot is a continuing threat.
U.S. court denies bail to alleged Tumbler Ridge shooting conspirator James Bryant https://t.co/fLNJ2FadUs
Bryant’s public defender lawyers urged the judge to grant release, citing his lack of a criminal record, stable housing, steady employment, and strong community ties. They challenged the prosecution’s evidence, describing it as "hard to assess" because much of it consists of a voluminous number of undisclosed Discord messages exchanged over several months.
The court was influenced by evidence that Bryant communicated with Van Rootselaar, expressed disapproval of the attack plans, but promised not to "snitch." After weighing the arguments, the judge denied bail, ordering Bryant to remain detained pending trial. The same day, 2026-10-13, the court’s decision was recorded as a denial of bail in the Seattle courtroom.