February 21, 2026
OpenAI didn't contact police despite employees flagging mass shooter's concerning chatbot interactions: REPORT
Months before a mass school shooting in British Columbia, OpenAI employees raised alarm about the shooter's violent chatbot prompts and debated calling police, but ultimately opted not to, according to a new report.
TL;DR
- OpenAI employees flagged concerning and violent chatbot interactions by Jesse Van Rootselaar months before he committed a mass shooting.
- Around a dozen employees were aware of the interactions, which involved violent scenarios and gun violence.
- OpenAI's policy requires an imminent threat of real-world harm to alert law enforcement.
- Employees debated contacting police, but the company ultimately opted not to.
- Van Rootselaar, who identified as transgender, killed multiple family members and students in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia.
- OpenAI banned Van Rootselaar's account in June 2025 for policy violations but determined it did not meet the threshold for law enforcement notification.
- The company stated it must balance privacy concerns and avoid unnecessary police referrals.
- OpenAI has since reached out to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and is supporting their investigation.
- Van Rootselaar had a history of mental health struggles and an obsession with death, according to reports.
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