A 30-year-old US man, James Codey Bryant, has been arrested and charged with conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country, the US Department of Justice announced on Tuesday. Bryant, a resident of western Washington state, is alleged to be an accomplice in a mass school shooting in Canada that occurred in February.
Authorities allege Bryant offered money and "technical advice" to the suspected shooter, Jesse Van Rootselaar, for six months leading up to the killings. The justice department stated that Bryant and Van Rootselaar met on the messaging service Omegle approximately three years before the shooting and maintained contact.
Canadian police identified Van Rootselaar as the suspect in the massacre of eight people, including six children, her mother, and her half-brother. The US Department of Justice and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) held a joint press conference on Tuesday, where they alleged Bryant sent Van Rootselaar around $100 for shoes and $15 for a lighter.
Police also stated that Bryant advised Van Rootselaar on how to start her car after she killed her mother and half-brother, which authorities said allowed her to reach the school and carry out the attack. Bryant also allegedly agreed to livestream the shooting.
Bryant will be prosecuted in the US by the FBI, which stated it will continue to work with Canadian authorities. It was not clear if Bryant was represented by a lawyer.