Vancouver, September 22 (Daily Kiran) : The province of British Columbia has initiated legal action against and its CEO, Sam Altman, claiming that the company failed to prevent a tragic school shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School in February 2026. The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in San Francisco, alleges that the shooting could have been averted if had alerted law enforcement about the shooter’s activities on .
In the complaint, the British Columbia government seeks compensation for relief and rehabilitation costs incurred following the incident, as well as a court order requiring to improve its handling of conversations that suggest violent intent.
British Columbia’s Attorney General, Niki Sharma, expressed the province’s concerns, stating, “We want to know if took adequate steps upon learning of the threat of violence.” The provincial government contends that ‘s security team had identified troubling discussions related to gun violence on the shooter’s account but failed to inform law enforcement.
According to the lawsuit, the shooter’s usage was flagged by ‘s security team as early as June 2025. Although team members recommended notifying the police, the company did not act on this advice. The account was eventually deactivated, but the shooter managed to create a new account and continued using the service.
The shooting on February 10, 2026, resulted in the deaths of eight individuals, including five children and a teacher, while injuring 27 others. The shooter, 18-year-old Jesse Van Routselaer, also died during the incident. In the aftermath, the British Columbia government has faced significant expenses related to community relief, mental health support, and rebuilding the school.
The provincial government has indicated that the Tumbler Ridge Secondary School building needed to be demolished and replaced due to the shooting. Additionally, mental health services were provided for the affected children, families, and community members. The government is now seeking compensation from for these expenses.
The lawsuit accuses of negligence and product safety violations, asserting that the company had options to implement safety measures that could have mitigated the risks of violent activities. However, these allegations remain under judicial consideration, and no final ruling has been made.
In response, spokesperson Drew Pusateri described the Tumbler Ridge shooting as a deeply tragic event. He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to collaborating with government and law enforcement while continuously enhancing its security measures.
Moreover, over 30 lawsuits have been filed against by the families of the shooting victims, survivors, and others, accusing the company of failing to intervene adequately and alert authorities about the shooter’s activities.
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