OpenAI Questioned After Alleged Shooter's Concerning Prompts Flagged

Canadian officials demand answers from AI company after reports it failed to alert police about disturbing online activity prior to deadly school shooting.

Feb. 22, 2026 at 7:49pm

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The Canadian government is pressing OpenAI for answers after reports that the AI company's systems flagged 'concerning online activity' from the shooter in the deadly Tumbler Ridge school massacre, but failed to alert law enforcement in a timely manner. Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon says he is 'deeply disturbed' by the reports and is in contact with OpenAI and other AI platforms about their safety protocols. The B.C. government has also confirmed it is pursuing orders to preserve any potential evidence related to the shootings that may be held by digital services companies, including AI firms.

Why it matters

This case raises serious questions about the responsibility of AI companies to report potential threats to public safety, especially when their systems identify concerning behavior. It also highlights the need for robust safety protocols and escalation practices to ensure law enforcement is warned about potential violence in a timely manner.

The details

According to reports, OpenAI employees raised alarms about the alleged shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, 18, after he made posts about gun violence scenarios while using the ChatGPT platform last June. OpenAI's automated review system flagged Van Rootselaar's posts, and the company considered alerting authorities about his concerning interactions with the chatbot at the time. However, OpenAI said the account didn't meet the threshold required to inform law enforcement because the company couldn't identify credible or imminent planning.

  • In June 2025, OpenAI employees flagged concerning online activity by the alleged shooter.
  • On February 10, 2026, the deadly shooting occurred at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and a nearby residence, leaving 27 people injured and 9 dead, including the shooter.

The players

Evan Solomon

Canada's Artificial Intelligence Minister, who is pressing OpenAI for answers about its failure to alert authorities to the alleged shooter's concerning online activity.

Jesse Van Rootselaar

The 18-year-old alleged shooter in the Tumbler Ridge school massacre, who had a history of mental illness and was reportedly flagged by OpenAI's systems for concerning online activity months before the attack.

OpenAI

The artificial intelligence company whose systems allegedly flagged the alleged shooter's concerning online activity but failed to alert law enforcement in a timely manner.

David Eby

The Premier of British Columbia, who has called the reports about OpenAI's failure to alert authorities 'profoundly disturbing' and said the province is pursuing orders to preserve any potential evidence related to the shootings.

RCMP

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who are investigating the Tumbler Ridge shootings and have confirmed that OpenAI contacted them after the incident.

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What they’re saying

“Canadians expect online platforms, including OpenAI, to have robust safety protocols and escalation practices in place to protect online safety and ensure law enforcement are warned about potential violence.”

— Evan Solomon, Artificial Intelligence Minister

“The pain the families have gone through is unimaginable.”

— David Eby, Premier of British Columbia

What’s next

The Canadian government is reviewing several measures to ensure the safety of Canadians, particularly children, when it comes to the use of AI technology. All options are on the table to ensure public safety and the protection of children are the top priorities.

The takeaway

This tragic incident highlights the critical need for AI companies to have robust safety protocols and escalation practices in place to identify and report potential threats to public safety. It underscores the responsibility of these companies to work closely with law enforcement to prevent such devastating events from occurring.