Employees at OpenAI raised alarms over disturbing posts from the transgender individual responsible for a deadly school shooting in Canada, months prior to the attack.
The Deadly Attack
Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, who began identifying as female at age 12, opened fire in the library of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia on February 10. The rampage killed a female teacher and five students—three girls and two boys aged 13 to 17—while injuring 25 others. Authorities discovered Van Rootselaar’s mother and brother dead at their home earlier that day. This incident marks the second-deadliest school shooting in Canadian history.
Warning Signs on ChatGPT
In June, Van Rootselaar shared graphic scenarios involving gun violence with ChatGPT over several days. An automated review system flagged the content, alerting about a dozen OpenAI employees. Some staff believed the posts signaled a risk of real-world violence and urged leaders to notify Canadian law enforcement.
OpenAI banned the account but determined the comments did not warrant escalation to authorities. A company spokesperson explained that the software trains to discourage real-world violence, with human reviews balancing user privacy and potential distress to families.
OpenAI issued a statement: “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the Tumbler Ridge tragedy.”
Shooter’s Troubled History
Police records show multiple mental health calls to Van Rootselaar’s home over the years. The individual stopped attending school at age 14 and faced apprehension under Canada’s Mental Health Act. Officers seized firearms from the residence a couple of years ago under the Criminal Code, though the lawful owner later petitioned for their return.
Social media archives reveal Van Rootselaar posing at a gun range and claiming to have 3D-printed a bullet cartridge. The shooter lived with three relatives in the community.
Community Impact and Response
An emergency alert warned Tumbler Ridge residents of an active shooter around 1:20 p.m. local time, followed by a lockdown alarm at 1:30 p.m. instructing barricades.
Liam Irving, whose family knew Van Rootselaar’s mother and younger brother, described them as well-known community members and “good friends.” He noted, “There’s not one person in this town right now that’s not affected by this.” Irving added that photos from the scene, showing blood, made the horror sink in.
The secondary school, serving 175 students, and its elementary counterpart closed for the week.
Leaders React
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed devastation in a social media post: “I join Canadians in grieving with those whose lives have been changed irreversibly today, and in gratitude for the courage and selflessness of the first responders who risked their lives to protect their fellow citizens.” His office suspended planned trips to Halifax and Munich.
British Columbia Premier David Eby called it an “unimaginable tragedy” after speaking with Carney. He urged residents to “hug our kids a little bit tighter tonight” and support Tumbler Ridge.
Elon Musk commented on X that OpenAI’s inaction was “troubling.”
Dwayne McDonald, Deputy Commissioner of British Columbia RCMP, confirmed past police visits and firearm seizures at the home.
