Mass Shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C.: OpenAI CEO Apologizes for Failure to Alert Police
A February 2025 mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, left eight dead and 25 injured. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has publicly apologized for not alerting law enforcement about the shooter's banned account.
Incident
On February 10, 2025, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar carried out a mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge. According to reports, six people were killed at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Two additional victims—Van Rootselaar's mother and 11-year-old stepbrother—were killed at a nearby residence. The shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. An educator was also among the deceased. The shooting left 25 people injured.
OpenAI's Role
OpenAI stated that its abuse detection systems identified Van Rootselaar's ChatGPT account in June 2024—approximately eight months before the shooting—for "furtherance of violent activities." The account was banned for violating the company's usage policies.
However, OpenAI did not refer the account to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). The company stated that the account's activity did not meet the threshold of a "credible or imminent threat."
Following the shooting, OpenAI proactively contacted the RCMP with information about the account.
Apology and Responses
"I am deeply sorry that we did not alert law enforcement to the account that was banned in June." — Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO
In a letter dated March 20, 2025, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman apologized to the community of Tumbler Ridge. Altman expressed his "deepest condolences" and reaffirmed the company's commitment to working with governments to prevent similar tragedies.
The letter was received by British Columbia Premier David Eby, who shared it publicly. Eby described the apology as "necessary, and yet grossly insufficient for the devastation done to the families of Tumbler Ridge." Earlier statements from Premier Eby and Mayor Darryl Krakowka indicated that Altman had agreed to issue an apology. Altman's letter acknowledged the community's anger and sadness.
Related Investigation
Separately, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced a criminal investigation into OpenAI following an examination of ChatGPT interactions with a Florida State University student accused of an April 2025 campus shooting. That incident resulted in two deaths and multiple injuries.
Uthmeier's office is issuing subpoenas for OpenAI's protocols on reporting possible crimes to law enforcement. An OpenAI spokesperson stated that after learning of the Florida incident, the company identified an account associated with the suspect and shared that information with law enforcement.