Archive · 22 Sep 2026
British Columbia Sues OpenAI Over Tumbler Ridge Shooting Warnings
British Columbia is suing OpenAI after a deadly shooting in Tumbler Ridge.
The province says OpenAI’s safety team noticed concerning ChatGPT activity before the attack.
It alleges the company did not warn local police.
The shooting in February 2026 killed eight people, including six children.
The accused attacker was 18-year-old Jessie Van Rootselaar.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman apologized to the victims’ families.
OpenAI has said the account did not appear to show that an attack was about to happen when it was suspended.
British Columbia wants money for rebuilding the school and helping people with mental health support.
It also wants OpenAI to change how it handles possible violence warnings.
British Columbia filed a lawsuit in a San Francisco federal court against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman.
The province alleges OpenAI failed to alert authorities after its safety team flagged ChatGPT activity linked to the shooting.
The February 2026 attack killed eight people, including six children, and involved 18-year-old Jessie Van Rootselaar.
British Columbia is seeking damages for rebuilding the school and providing mental health support.
The province also wants court-ordered changes to OpenAI’s handling of conversations indicating a possible risk of violence.
- Who
- British Columbia is suing OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman; the shooting involved 18-year-old Jessie Van Rootselaar.
- What
- The province alleges OpenAI failed to notify authorities about concerning ChatGPT activity before the Tumbler Ridge shooting.
- When
- The shooting occurred in February 2026, and the lawsuit was filed on Monday; Altman apologized in April.
- Where
- The shooting occurred in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, and the lawsuit was filed in federal court in San Francisco, California.
- Why
- British Columbia is seeking damages and changes to OpenAI’s procedures for handling conversations that may indicate a risk of violence.
British Columbia’s allegations
OpenAI’s stated response
Whether authorities should have been warned
British Columbia’s allegations
British Columbia alleges OpenAI’s safety team flagged references to gun violence in ChatGPT activity months before the shooting but did not alert local authorities.
OpenAI’s stated response
OpenAI has apologized for not alerting law enforcement and has said that, when the account was suspended, nothing indicated an attack was imminent.
Disclosure of chat contents
British Columbia’s allegations
Attorney General Niki Sharma says the province has asked OpenAI to disclose the chats and criticizes the company for refusing to do so.
OpenAI’s stated response
The supplied reports say OpenAI refused the request, but do not provide a fuller explanation for that refusal.
Accountability and future safeguards
British Columbia’s allegations
British Columbia wants damages and court-ordered changes to how OpenAI handles conversations suggesting possible violence, while Sharma is calling for stronger safeguards and transparency.
OpenAI’s stated response
OpenAI has acknowledged the failure through Altman’s apology and has said the account would have triggered a police report under security rules introduced after June 2025.
- Plaintiff
- British Columbia
- Defendants
- OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman
- Court
- Federal court in San Francisco, California
- Incident
- Tumbler Ridge mass shooting
- Incident date
- February 2026
- Reported casualties
- Eight people killed, including six children
- Requested remedies
- Damages for school rebuilding and mental health support, plus changes to OpenAI’s safety procedures
- Related litigation
- Families of people killed or injured in the shooting have separately sued OpenAI
