Editor’s note: This story was corrected 10/6/26 at 2:15 p.m. to reflect the total number of people killed in the shooting. MBN regrets the error.

BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A Bellingham resident is in federal custody after being accused of facilitating a cross-border mass shooting.

Acting U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd says 30-year-old James Cody Bryant was arrested earlier Tuesday, Oct. 6.

Prosecutors allege that Bryant had been in communication with Jesse Van Rootselaar for at least six months prior to the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School shooting in B.C. earlier this year.

In February, Van Rootselaar shot and killed two family members before setting off an improvised explosive device and shooting people at the school.

Another six people – five students and an educator – were killed by Van Rootselaar, who later committed suicide.

Investigators learned that Bryant had been in communication with Van Rootselaar through the Discord app since August of 2025.

Court records state that Bryant gave Van Rootselaar advice on weapons, sent her money to purchase weapons and IED materials and agreed to live-stream the mass shooting.

The FBI adds that Bryant went so far as to help Van Rootselaar start the car to get to the school after she had already killed two family members.

If Bryant’s convicted of conspiring to murder others in a foreign country, Bryant faces up to life in prison.