SAN FRANCISCO / TUMBLER RIDGE — OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, confirmed on Friday that its abuse detection systems identified Jesse Van Rootselaar as a high-risk user in mid-2025. While the company took the step of banning him from the platform, it ultimately decided his activity did not meet the criteria for a police referral—a decision that is now being questioned following the deadliest mass killing in Canada since 2020.
The “Threshold” Debate: Why OpenAI Stayed Silent
According to the company’s statement, the account was flagged in June 2025 for content related to the “furtherance of violent activities.”
- The Internal Review: OpenAI employees analyzed the account and even discussed a potential referral to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
- The Conclusion: The company decided against it, stating the content did not represent an “imminent and credible risk of serious physical harm.”
- The Action Taken: OpenAI simply banned the account and closed the case until the shooting occurred last week.
The Rampage: A Community Shattered
Police reports paint a harrowing picture of the events in Tumbler Ridge:
- The Domestic Attack: Van Rootselaar first killed his mother and stepbrother at their residence.
- The School Shooting: He then moved to a nearby school, killing a 39-year-old teaching assistant and five students (aged 12–13).
- The Suspect: Van Rootselaar died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene. He reportedly had a history of mental health-related contacts with the police.
Cops Scrutinize “Digital Footprint”
RCMP Staff Sgt. Kris Clark confirmed that OpenAI proactively reached out to investigators after the tragedy. Police are now methodically processing a mountain of digital evidence, including:
- ChatGPT Logs: To determine if the AI was used to plan the logistics of the attack.
- Social Media: To identify any radicalization or specific manifestos.
- Electronic Devices: Analyzing Van Rootselaar’s search history and private communications.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the Tumbler Ridge tragedy… we’ll continue to support their investigation,” an OpenAI spokesperson told the Associated Press.