Many disturbing new details about the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting have come out in a US court filing against an alleged co-conspirator.
Reader discretion is advised.
US attorneys say 30 year-old James Cody Bryant knowingly and willfully conspired with Jesse Van Rootselaar to commit the attacks.
The Washington state resident had been in contact with Van Rootselaar for three years after the two met through the online messaging app Discord.
They used the app to discuss weapons, exchange advice, send money, and even hatched plans to livestream the shooting.
Discord provided the info to RCMP, who shared it with FBI, leading to an interview with Bryant shortly after the attack.
Bryant said Van Rootsellar initially didn’t want to target a school because she didn’t want to hurt children.
Their messages also show that Van Rootselaar wanted to commit the worst mass shooting in Canada’s history.
She wanted to livestream the attack so people could “witness the lives impacted”.
Bryant helped her test a live stream and had planned to run it the day of, but it was quickly shut down.
When her car wouldn’t start after killing her family, Bryant provided advice to fix it so she could get to the school.
He had also provided her with money for clothes and an explosive device used in the attack.
He did try to talk her out of it, but promised not to notify authorities.
Chats Reveal Long-Awaited Details on Guns Used
Months of messages between the two reveal that Van Rootselaar had stolen the guns and ammunition used from her family’s safe about six months prior to the shooting.
She had allegedly also convinced someone else to buy more ammunition for her.
Photos shared of the guns show a rifle with a telescopic sight and supressor.
They also discuss other modifications, like a 3D-printed foregrip, magazines, and a switch for the rifle, likely a machine-gun conversion.
Bryant also told Van Rootselaar it would be smart to bring a handgun.
RCMP had seized guns when Van Rootselaar was involuntarily institutionalized, but returned them.
Messages also show Van Rootselaar had first plotted to attack a mall or Wal-Mart, and also shared a map of the Northern Lights College campus in Dawson Creek.
Bryant is being charged with conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country, and faces a max sentencing of life in prison.
A grand jury will decide whether or not to indict Bryant in an October 20th hearing.
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