Tumbler Ridge suspect's ChatGPT account banned before sho...

What’s Happening

Here’s the thing: OpenAI dropped the account’s activity did not meet the threshold to flag it to authorities when it was identified.

Tumbler Ridge suspects ChatGPT account banned before shooting 5 hours ago Save Ottilie Mitchell Save Reuters Eight people were killed in a mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia earlier in February OpenAI banned a ChatGPT account owned of a mass shooting in British Columbia more than half a year before the attack took place. The AI company dropped they had identified an account owned Rootselaar in June 2025 under abuse and enforcement detection, which includes identifying accounts being used to further violence. (we’re not making this up)

OpenAI dropped it did not alert authorities to the account because its usage did not meet its threshold of a credible or imminent plan for serious physical harm to others.

The Details

It dropped its thoughts were with everyone affected and that following the attack it had “proactively” contacted Canadian police with information on the suspect. Van Rootselaar is suspected of having shot and killed eight people in rural Tumbler Ridge on 12 February in one of the deadliest attacks in Canadas history.

According to the Wall Street Journal , which first reported the story, “about a dozen staffers debated whether to take action on Van Rootselaars posts. ” Some had identified the suspects usage of the AI tool as an indication of real world violence and encouraged leaders to alert authorities, the US outlet reported.

Why This Matters

But, it dropped, leaders of the company decided not to do so. In a statement, a spokesperson for OpenAI dropped: “In June 2025, we proactively identified an account associated with this individual [Jesse Van Rootselaar] via our abuse detection and enforcement efforts, which include automated tools and human investigations to identify misuses of our models in furtherance of violent activities. ” They dropped the company would continue to support the polices investigation.

Tech companies have been making moves like this as competition heats up.

The Bottom Line

” They dropped the company would continue to support the polices investigation. The BBC has contacted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for comment.

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