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Bellingham

Bellingham resident pleads not guilty to assisting in B.C. school shooting

If convicted, 30-year-old Melody Bryant faces up to life in prison.

By Jason Upton October 23, 2026 11:47 am

Associated PressIn this photo taken with a smartphone, Mike Herrington, the FBI special agent in charge, speaks to the media on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, in Seattle. Standing next to Herrington are Elija Rain, the assistant commissioner of the British Columbia Royal Canadian Mounted Police, left, and Acting U.S. Attorney Neil Floyd, right. (AP Photo/Manuel Valdes)

BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The Bellingham resident accused of facilitating a deadly mass shooting in B.C. has pleaded not guilty.

Court documents state 30-year-old Melody Bryant, also known as James Bryant, entered the plea during her arraignment in federal court on Thursday, Oct. 22.

Investigators say Bryant provided assistance to Jesse Van Rootselaar, who killed eight people and wounded 27 in the mountain community of Tumbler Ridge, B.C. in February.

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

Bryant is facing one count of conspiracy to murder persons in a foreign country.

If convicted, she faces up to life in prison.