US arrest announced in connection with Canada’s Tumbler Ridge school shooting, tell me about this news today

The U.S. Department of Justice announced the arrest of 30-year-old James Cody Bryant in Bellingham, Washington, charging him with conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country. The charge carries a potential penalty of up to life in prison.

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According to investigators from the FBI and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Bryant is alleged to have assisted the shooter, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, in the planning of the mass shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in British Columbia:

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• Online Coordination: Bryant and the shooter originally connected via a random online chat site and continued communicating over Discord for several months leading up to the attack. Discord flagged and reported the chats to authorities following the event.

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• Planning and Financial Support: U.S. court documents allege that Bryant reviewed attack plans, gave advice, and provided money to the shooter.

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• Livestream Assistance: Federal prosecutors stated that Bryant agreed to help broadcast and amplify a live video stream of the attack because the shooter lacked a significant online following and wanted a wider audience.

Bryant made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Seattle on Tuesday.

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