James Cody Bryant, 30, of Bellingham, faces a federal conspiracy charge for allegedly helping plan and livestream the Tumbler Ridge, B.C. school shooting.
SEATTLE, Wash. — A federal grand jury has indicted the 30-year-old Bellingham man accused of helping the Tumbler Ridge school shooter plan and livestream a February attack that killed eight victims in British Columbia, Canada.
James Cody Bryant faces a federal charge of conspiracy to murder people in a foreign country, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington.
The indictment outlines alleged steps Bryant took to support the attack, including testing livestreaming equipment, sending money to the shooter and discussing ways to conceal their communications.
Bryant is scheduled for arraignment in Seattle on Oct. 22.
The indictment follows the criminal complaint filed earlier this month in which federal investigators accused Bryant of conspiring with Jesse Van Rootselaar, who carried out the Feb. 10 attack at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.
Indictment Details Alleged Role in Shooting Plot
According to the indictment, Bryant and Van Rootselaar communicated frequently for about six months before the shooting. Prosecutors allege Bryant agreed as early as August 2025 to record the attack and broadcast it online.
The indictment identifies several actions Bryant allegedly took to advance the conspiracy.
In August 2025, Bryant tested the livestream and reportedly described the image quality as “solid.” He tested the equipment again in January 2026 and confirmed that it worked, according to prosecutors.
Bryant also allegedly advised Van Rootselaar about where to attack and what weapons to carry. In late January, he sent Van Rootselaar money through PayPal to buy a lighter intended for use in an improvised explosive device, the indictment alleges.
On the day of the shooting, Bryant allegedly confirmed that the livestream worked and later acknowledged that the stream had gone down.
The indictment also describes conversations in which Bryant and Van Rootselaar discussed the illegality of their plans and ways to conceal their communications or obscure the source of the livestream.
Prosecutors cite these alleged actions as evidence that Bryant knowingly helped advance the planned attack.
“The Tumbler Ridge Secondary School shooting was a horrific tragedy for that small community and for all of Canada. Indeed, here in the Pacific Northwest we felt the pain of those families devastated by this violence. It is even more profoundly disturbing to learn that a resident of Western Washington had a role in the attack and took steps – providing counsel, technical advice, and money to the shooter planning such a tragedy.”
Acting U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd, Western District of Washington
Tumbler Ridge Shooting Killed Eight Victims
On Feb. 10, Van Rootselaar killed two relatives at a residence before traveling to Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. There, Van Rootselaar killed five children ages 12 and 13 and an educational assistant.
Van Rootselaar also used an improvised explosive device to damage the school and fired through locked classroom doors while attempting to reach people inside, according to the case summary provided by federal authorities.
Police exchanged gunfire with Van Rootselaar, who later died by suicide.
The attack devastated the small northeastern British Columbia community and prompted a cross-border investigation involving Canadian and U.S. law enforcement agencies.
Investigators identified Bryant after learning that Van Rootselaar had communicated frequently with someone through Discord, according to records filed in the case. Law enforcement officials obtained and reviewed thousands of messages between the two, the records state.
The communications form part of the evidence behind the government’s allegations that Bryant helped advance the shooting conspiracy.
Bryant Faces Potential Life Sentence
Bryant faces a federal conspiracy charge that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
The FBI investigated the case with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg is prosecuting the case with assistance from the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
The indictment contains allegations, not findings of guilt. Bryant is presumed innocent unless and until prosecutors prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Author
