Bail denied for U.S. suspect accused of helping plan Tumbler Ridge school shooting

The Story

A Seattle, Wash., court has denied bail to James Cody Bryant, who is accused of conspiring with Jesse Van Rootselaar in connection with the deadly Feb. 10 shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia.

Prosecutors say Bryant helped Van Rootselaar start their car after the teen had already killed his mother and step-brother, so Van Rootselaar could drive to the school and carry out the attack. Van Rootselaar ultimately killed five students and an educational assistant before taking his own life.

In court, Bryant was charged with conspiracy to murder people in a foreign country. Prosecutors said court filings describe Bryant providing “tactical advice,” including suggestions for target locations and what type of guns Van Rootselaar should use.

Assistant U.S. attorney Todd Greenberg argued Bryant should remain in custody due to the seriousness of the offence, the strength of the evidence and the danger to the community. He told the court Bryant had been in daily communication for months with someone planning a mass murder event in British Columbia, and that Bryant understood the potential death toll.

Greenberg also pointed to steps prosecutors said showed Bryant’s involvement over several months, including agreeing to record and broadcast a livestream and helping test the feed multiple times, as well as responding to messages about who would be in attendance. Prosecutors also alleged Bryant sent money promptly through PayPal tied to items shown in a picture, and they described discussions about strategy and the building’s layout.

The prosecution additionally raised concerns about mental health, saying Bryant denied suicidal ideation during a pretrial interview but had previously told Van Rootselaar they were suicidal, including a statement dated Jan. 12.

Bryant’s defence, represented by assistant federal public defenders Gregory Murphy and Dennis Carroll, acknowledged the killings but argued the bail decision must follow the usual legal standard rather than being driven by the emotional weight of the case. The defence also challenged the government’s approach, including the timing of Bryant’s arrest and the period after an FBI interview in March.

After reviewing written submissions and hearing arguments from both sides, the judge concluded the risks identified by pretrial services—described as serious, deeply rooted mental health concerns involving substance abuse, along with the challenges of creating and enforcing conditions where internet communications are involved—could not reasonably be addressed through release conditions. Bryant was denied bail and ordered detained until further court order.