Washington State Resident Arrested for Allegedly Assisting in Canadian School Shooting

<p>A Washington state resident has been arrested for allegedly assisting in a Canadian school shooting that resulted in eight fatalities, according to federal officials. James Cody Bryant, 30, was taken into custody on Tuesday morning in Bellingham, north of Seattle, accused of providing financial support, advice, and agreeing to broadcast the attack that occurred on February 10 at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia.</p><p>Acting U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd stated at a Seattle news conference that Bryant had the opportunity to alert law enforcement but chose not to do so. Instead, he allegedly encouraged and assisted the shooter, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar.</p><p>Bryant faces a federal charge of conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country. Prosecutors allege he helped the shooter start a car to reach the school after the attack had begun. Floyd noted that Bryant admitted to being possibly the only person who could have stopped the shooter.</p><p>Both Bryant and Van Rootselaar identified as transgender, with Bryant identifying as female. The two met approximately three years prior to the attack through the online chat service Omegle. Investigators have not determined the nature of their relationship or whether they ever met in person.</p><p>Their online communications reportedly included discussions of violence over a six-month period. Bryant allegedly agreed to record and broadcast a livestream of the attack to increase the shooter's notoriety, staying awake after a work shift to ensure the act could be widely viewed online.</p><p>The attempted livestream on Twitch lasted about 20 seconds before it was shut down. Investigators are uncertain whether the attack would have occurred without Bryant's involvement in the livestream.</p><p>Floyd mentioned that Bryant and the shooter discussed sending weapons to Canada, but Bryant was reportedly uncomfortable with that idea. There is no indication that the firearms used in the attack originated from the United States.</p><p>Floyd stated that investigators found no evidence of any political ideology or group affiliation related to the case. The investigation began shortly after the shooting when Canadian police contacted the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Investigators have reviewed thousands of communications, many on Discord, and have conducted interviews with over 90 individuals, including students and educators.</p><p>Canadian authorities continue to investigate and consider the possibility of further charges. Floyd emphasized that individuals who assist in mass shootings can face prosecution, regardless of their physical presence at the crime scene.</p><p>The February 10 attack resulted in the deaths of eight individuals, including five students, an educator, and the shooter's mother and stepbrother. Van Rootselaar was found deceased inside the school from an apparent self-inflicted injury.</p>