Lawyers who represent victims and survivors of the Tumbler Ridge school shooting are initiating 30 new legal complaints against OpenAI in a U.S. federal court in California. Edelson PC, a U.S. law firm specializing in class actions, disclosed that the fresh plaintiffs consist of educators, a principal, and students, including siblings who were separated during the tragic events of February 10 in northern B.C. The incident resulted in the loss of eight lives, including six children and the 18-year-old perpetrator.
The legal actions outline the harrowing experiences endured that day and present additional information regarding OpenAI’s alleged failure in preventing the shooting. One of the lawsuits emphasizes, “The survivors — students, teachers, and parents alike — are grappling with physical and psychological wounds that may never fully mend.” These new claims have been lodged in California, where OpenAI is headquartered, alongside seven other existing cases filed by families of the shooting victims against the company.
Edelson asserts that OpenAI’s safety team had made multiple requests to alert authorities about Jesse Van Rootselaar’s activities on ChatGPT eight months prior to the tragedy, which reportedly involved planning violent scenarios. However, the lawsuits claim that these requests were disregarded by Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s head of global affairs. The legal documents allege that the company’s leadership neglected recommendations from its safety staff and refrained from notifying the police, despite taking protective measures for its own offices upon learning of threats to its employees three months before the Tumbler Ridge shooting.
The legal actions accuse OpenAI of prioritizing profit over the lives of Tumbler Ridge children as the company prepares to go public. OpenAI has not responded to CBC News’ request for comments on the new lawsuits. The company had previously acknowledged banning Van Rootselaar’s account in June 2025 but stated that the reported activities did not meet the necessary threshold for police involvement at that time. CEO Sam Altman has issued an apology to the Tumbler Ridge community and announced updates to the company’s protocols.
In addition to the legal actions by the victims’ families, the B.C. government is planning its own legal proceedings against OpenAI and has already demolished the site of Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. The initial lawsuits against the tech giant included the family of Maya Gebala, a 12-year-old student who survived being shot in the head during the incident. Cia Edmonds, in a recent Facebook post, shared a heartwarming video of her daughter’s progress in relearning to speak, showcasing her resilience and determination.
The only way to hold OpenAI accountable, according to U.S. lawyer Jay Edelson, who represents the Tumbler Ridge shooting victims’ families in the legal battle against OpenAI, is to impact the company’s financial standing.
