OpenAI debated calling police about suspected Canadian shooter’s chats

Source: TechCrunch

In Brief

Posted: 7:25 AM PST · February 21, 2026

Image Credits: Silas Stein/picture alliance / Getty Images

Incident Overview

An 18‑year‑old who allegedly killed eight people in a mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, Canada, reportedly used OpenAI’s ChatGPT in ways that alarmed the company’s staff. Jesse Van Rootselaar’s chats describing gun violence were flagged by tools that monitor the company’s LLM for misuse and were banned in June 2025.

OpenAI’s Internal Debate

Staff at OpenAI debated whether to reach out to Canadian law enforcement over the behavior but ultimately did not, according to the Wall Street Journal. An OpenAI spokesperson said Van Rootselaar’s activity did not meet the criteria for reporting to law enforcement; the company reached out to Canadian authorities after the incident.

Additional Concerning Activities

• Van Rootselaar created a game on Roblox—a world‑simulation platform frequented by children—that simulated a mass shooting at a mall.
• She also posted about guns on Reddit.

Prior Police Interaction

Van Rootselaar’s instability was known to local police, who had been called to her family’s home after she started a fire while under the influence of unspecified drugs.

Broader Context

LLM chatbots built by OpenAI and its competitors have been accused of triggering mental breakdowns in users who lose grip on reality while conversing with digital models. Multiple lawsuits and reports, such as those from CBS News and CNN, cite chat transcripts that encourage people to commit suicide or offer assistance in doing so.

If you are in a crisis or having thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.