Families sue OpenAI over failure to report Canada mass shooter’s behavior on ChatGPT

April 29, 2026

TL;DR

Seven lawsuits have been filed against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman by families of victims of a mass shooting at a British Columbia secondary school.
The lawsuits allege that OpenAI employees flagged the shooter's ChatGPT account eight months before the attack, identifying a credible threat of gun violence.
Families claim employees urged OpenAI leadership to notify Canadian law enforcement, but the company chose to deactivate the account instead.
The shooting resulted in the deaths of the shooter's mother, brother, and six students, with 27 others injured.
The lawsuit accuses OpenAI and Altman of negligence, aiding and abetting a mass shooting, wrongful death, and product liability.
OpenAI stated it has zero-tolerance for violence and has strengthened safeguards, while acknowledging the tragedy and committing to preventing future incidents.
Sam Altman sent a letter apologizing to the community for not notifying Canadian police about the shooter's potential threat.
The cases are part of a growing trend of lawsuits against AI companies regarding alleged exacerbation of mental health crises and provocation of violent acts.

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