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Lawsuits allege OpenAI ignored warnings before deadly attack
Seven families of victims from the February mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, have filed lawsuits in California against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, accusing the company of failing to act on troubling interactions the shooter had with ChatGPT.
Background of the attack
On 10 February, 18-year-old Jessie Van Rootselaar opened fire at a secondary school in Tumbler Ridge, killing eight people, including six children. The suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene. Among the survivors is 12-year-old Maya Gebala, who remains hospitalized after being shot three times in the head, neck, and cheek.
OpenAI's response to pre-attack red flags
Media reports revealed that OpenAI's safety team flagged Van Rootselaar's ChatGPT activity months before the attack due to references to gun violence. Despite internal recommendations to report the suspect to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), OpenAI's leadership allegedly vetoed the decision. The lawsuits claim this inaction was motivated by concerns over the company's $850 billion valuation and reputation.
In an open letter published by Tumbler RidgeLines, Altman apologized to the victims' families, stating, "While I know words can never be enough, I believe an apology is necessary to recognize the harm and irreversible loss your community has suffered."
Allegations of negligence and cover-up
The lawsuits, filed by a joint US-Canadian legal team, accuse OpenAI and its leadership of negligence and aiding the attack by failing to alert law enforcement. One lawsuit on behalf of Gebala's family alleges OpenAI "had actual knowledge" of the shooter's violent intentions through ChatGPT conversations but chose not to act. The filings also claim OpenAI falsely stated the suspect was banned, as he later created a new account under the same name to continue planning the attack.
"They did the math and decided that the safety of the children of Tumbler Ridge was an acceptable risk."
Lawsuit filed by victims' families
OpenAI denied these claims in a statement to the BBC, asserting it revokes access for banned users and takes steps to prevent new account creation. The company also stated it has a "zero-tolerance policy for using our tools to assist in committing violence" and has since strengthened safeguards, including improved threat assessment and escalation protocols.
Legal strategy and broader implications
Jay Edelson, the attorney representing the families, expects to file over two dozen lawsuits on behalf of Tumbler Ridge victims and community members. He plans to request jury trials for each case, emphasizing his confidence in presenting the evidence to jurors.
"We're going to put the jury in the room when the decision was made to not tell the Canadian authorities. We're going to show them how people were jumping up and down saying we need to protect this town, and how Sam Altman and OpenAI routinely make these decisions to put their own interests first."
Jay Edelson, attorney for the families
Edelson revealed that OpenAI has refused to provide the suspect's chat logs, though he believes they will be obtained through the legal process. The lawsuits replace an earlier case filed in Canada by Gebala's family, which is being voluntarily withdrawn.
OpenAI's ongoing safety commitments
In a blog post published Tuesday, OpenAI outlined its procedures for responding to users exhibiting potentially dangerous behavior. Altman also pledged to collaborate with Canadian officials to strengthen safety measures and prevent future tragedies. The company is concurrently facing a criminal probe in Florida related to another shooting at Florida State University last year, where ChatGPT was allegedly used by the attacker.
