Head of OpenAI apologises for failing to alert police ahead of Canada mass shooting
Summary
The head of OpenAI, Sam Altman, apologized for not informing police about an account linked to a person who later committed a mass shooting in Canada. The company had detected violent behavior on the user’s account but did not report it to law enforcement before banning the account in June 2025.Key Facts
- The shooting occurred at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia, Canada, in February 2026.
- The shooter, an 18-year-old woman named Jesse Van Rootselaar, killed eight people including her family members before taking her own life.
- OpenAI identified Van Rootselaar’s account in June 2025 for showing interest in violent activities.
- OpenAI decided not to report the account to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, believing it did not meet the threshold for law enforcement referral.
- After the attack, OpenAI publicly apologized and committed to working with governments to prevent similar events.
- B.C. Premier David Eby called the apology "necessary but insufficient" given the tragedy.
- OpenAI banned the user’s account in June 2025 for violating its rules.
- Sam Altman expressed condolences to the victims’ families and the local community.
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