Alleged Tumbler Ridge Shooting Co-Conspirator Indicted by U.S. Grand Jury
Subhadarshi Tripathy
10/15/20262 min read
A U.S. grand jury has indicted a Washington state resident accused of helping plan the February mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., where eight victims were killed.
James Cody Bryant, 30, has been indicted on a charge of conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country.
Bryant’s lawyers have said she uses she/her pronouns and goes by the name Melody.
The indictment means a grand jury determined there was probable cause for prosecutors to pursue the criminal case. The allegations against Bryant have not been proven in court.
Justice Department Alleges Bryant Helped Advance Shooting Plan
The U.S. Department of Justice said the indictment outlines several alleged actions Bryant took to further the shooting conspiracy.
Prosecutors allege Bryant agreed to record the attack and broadcast it online.
She is also accused of advising 18-year-old shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar about potential locations to attack and what weapons to use.
The indictment further alleges Bryant sent Van Rootselaar money to purchase a lighter intended for use in an improvised explosive device.
The Justice Department said conspiracy to murder people in a foreign country carries a maximum sentence of life in prison if convicted.
Eight Victims Killed in February Attack
Eight victims were shot and killed in Tumbler Ridge in February, including five students and a teacher at the community’s secondary school.
Van Rootselaar carried out the attack on Feb. 10 and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the school.
The killings triggered an international investigation into whether anyone outside Canada had helped plan or facilitate the attack.
Bryant, a resident of Bellingham, Wash., was subsequently arrested and accused by U.S. authorities of taking part in the alleged conspiracy.
Bryant Denied Bail Before Indictment
Bryant was denied bail one day before the grand jury indictment was announced Wednesday.
Emily Langlie, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, previously said that if an indictment were returned, a preliminary hearing scheduled for Oct. 20 would no longer be necessary.
With the grand jury now having issued an indictment, the case can move ahead through the federal court system without that preliminary hearing.
Federal Prosecutors Handling Case
The U.S. Department of Justice said Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Greenberg is prosecuting the case with assistance from the department’s National Security Division.
Authorities have not said when Bryant’s next court appearance will take place.
The Justice Department emphasized that an indictment is an allegation, not a finding of guilt, and Bryant is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The case represents a significant cross-border development in the investigation into the Tumbler Ridge shooting, with U.S. prosecutors now alleging that at least one person outside Canada played a role in helping advance the attack.
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