In an apology to Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia’s community, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, expressed regret over not notifying law enforcement regarding a user account tied to the suspect in a February shooting that resulted in eight fatalities. As reported by Canadian media outlet Tumbler Ridgelines, Altman acknowledged in a letter released Friday that the company should have informed authorities about Jesse Van Rootselaar’s account after banning it in June 2025 for violent activity-related behavior.
“I am profoundly sorry we didn’t alert law enforcement to the account banned in June,” Altman stated. “Though I recognize words are insufficient, an apology is essential to acknowledge the harm and irreversible loss endured by your community.”
This statement follows a mass shooting in February in Tumbler Ridge where local authorities reported that 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar allegedly killed her mother, Jennifer Jacobs (39), and stepbrother, Emmett Jacobs (11) at their residence before proceeding to the nearby Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. There, five children and an educator were killed before Van Rootselaar committed suicide. The incident left 25 others injured.
Altman conveyed his “deepest condolences” to the community, emphasizing that no one should face such a tragedy. “Losing a child is unimaginable in this world,” he added.
Following the attack, OpenAI revealed its abuse-detection systems had flagged Van Rootselaar’s ChatGPT account months earlier. The company considered notifying the Royal Canadian Mounted Police but deemed it did not meet their threshold for a credible or imminent threat of serious physical harm, leading to the account’s ban for policy violations.
Altman mentioned discussions with Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka and British Columbia Premier David Eby, who shared the community’s “anger, sadness, and concern.” They agreed on the necessity of a public apology but allowed time for residents to grieve.
“I reiterate my commitment to both the mayor and premier to prevent future tragedies,” Altman wrote. “Our focus will remain on collaborating with all government levels to ensure this never happens again.”
The letter arrives amid increasing scrutiny over AI companies’ responses to potential real-world violence and mental-health crises, including a Florida investigation into whether ChatGPT influenced a 2025 mass shooting suspect, a lawsuit alleging Google’s Gemini exacerbated a man’s delusions before his suicide, and studies indicating some AI models can reinforce paranoia and dangerous beliefs. Additionally, Altman is set for a civil trial with former business partner Elon Musk in federal court later this week.
“The apology, while necessary, is grossly inadequate given the devastation to Tumbler Ridge families,” Eby posted on X. “We will continue supporting Mayor Darryl Krakowa and the people of Tumbler Ridge through this challenging time.”
OpenAI did not immediately respond to Decrypt’s request for comment.