OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Apologizes for Failing to Report Canadian Mass Shooter to Police

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has issued a formal apology to the community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, after his company failed to alert law enforcement about the concerning online activities of a teenager who later committed a mass shooting in the town.

In a letter dated April 23, 2026, addressed to residents of Tumbler Ridge, Altman acknowledged that OpenAI had identified and suspended the ChatGPT account of 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar in June 2025 for misuse related to violent activities but did not notify authorities at the time.

“I am deeply sorry that we did not alert law enforcement to the account that was banned in June,” Altman wrote in the letter, which was shared publicly by British Columbia Premier David Eby on social media platform X.

Van Rootselaar carried out a shooting spree on February 10, 2026, at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and a nearby residence, killing eight people, including six children at the school, his mother and his 11-year-old brother. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound during the incident.

OpenAI confirmed that internal reviews had flagged Van Rootselaar’s account prior to the attack, citing concerns about its use in furtherance of violent activities. However, the company stated at the time that the activity did not meet its threshold for posing a credible or imminent threat of harm to others, and therefore did not constitute grounds for reporting to law enforcement.

In his letter, Altman expressed deep regret over the outcome, stating that while he understood words could never be enough, he believed an apology was necessary to acknowledge the harm caused to the community. He said he had been in contact with local authorities in the months following the shooting and emphasized that the community’s pain was “unimaginable.”

“I want to express my deepest condolences to the entire community. No one should ever have to endure a tragedy like this. Imagine anything worse in this world than losing a child. My heart remains with the victims, their families, all the members of the community, and the province of British Columbia,” Altman wrote.

The apology came after widespread scrutiny of OpenAI’s handling of the case, including criticism from public officials. Premier Eby noted that while the apology was necessary, it remained “grossly insufficient for the devastation done to the families of Tumbler Ridge.”

Royal Canadian Mounted Police confirmed they are continuing their investigation into the shooting and the events leading up to it, including the role of online platforms in the lead-up to the attack.