OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Apologizes for Not Reporting ChatGPT Account Linked to Tumbler Ridge Mass Shooter

OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman has apologised to the community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, for failing to alert police about the concerning online activity of the individual responsible for a mass shooting that killed eight people, including six children, in February 2026.

In a letter dated April 23, 2026, shared publicly by the community and confirmed by an OpenAI spokesperson, Altman expressed deep regret over the company’s failure to notify law enforcement despite internal knowledge of the account linked to Jesse Van Rootselaar. The account had been banned by OpenAI in June 2025 due to concerns about violent content, yet no report was made to authorities before the attack.

Altman stated in the letter that while words could never be enough, he believed an apology was necessary to acknowledge the harm and irreplaceable loss suffered by the residents of Tumbler Ridge. He said he had been thinking of the victims and their families often over the past months and that his heart remained with them and the broader community of British Columbia.

The apology followed a meeting in early March between Altman, British Columbia Premier David Eby, and Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka, during which Altman committed to issuing a formal statement after allowing the community time to grieve. Premier Eby had previously stated that the tragedy might have been prevented had OpenAI reported the account to police at the time of its internal ban.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have confirmed that Jesse Van Rootselaar, an 18-year-old resident of Tumbler Ridge, carried out the shooting on February 10, 2026, targeting a residence and a local school. Eight people were killed and dozens more wounded in what officials described as one of the worst mass shootings in the province’s recent history.

OpenAI has faced widespread criticism since it was revealed that despite monitoring the account for signs of harmful behaviour, the company did not consider the content serious enough to trigger a legal obligation to warn authorities under its internal policies. The incident has intensified calls for stronger regulatory oversight of artificial intelligence platforms, particularly regarding their responsibility to report credible threats of violence.