The co-conspirator linked to the tragic mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., is set to make a plea during a court session in Seattle today.
James Bryant, a 30-year-old individual who identifies with female pronouns and goes by the name Melody, was recently indicted by a grand jury in Washington state for being involved in a conspiracy to murder individuals in a foreign country.
According to the criminal complaint, Bryant allegedly collaborated with the shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, over the internet to organize a failed live broadcast of the violent incident. It is claimed that Bryant guided Van Rootselaar on the location to carry out the attack and even provided financial assistance to purchase supplies for the crime.
In the tragic event that unfolded last February, Van Rootselaar took the lives of eight victims, including students and a school assistant, before taking her own life as law enforcement approached.
Bryant’s bail request has been turned down, and the U.S. Justice Department has stated that the charge of conspiracy to commit murder in a foreign country carries a potential life sentence. It is emphasized that the allegations against Bryant have not yet been proven.
Published by The Canadian Press on October 22, 2026.
