OpenAI CEO apologizes to Tumbler Ridge community

In a letter to residents of Tumbler Ridge, Canada, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said he “deeply regrets” the company’s failure to report the suspect in a recent mass shooting to law enforcement.

After police identified 18-year-old Jessie Van Rootseller as the gunman accused of killing eight people, the Wall Street Journal reported that OpenAI flagged and banned Van Rootseller’s ChatGPT account in June 2025 because she described scenarios involving gun violence. Company staff debated calling the police, but ultimately decided not to, and ultimately contacted Canadian authorities after the shooting.

OpenAI has since said it is improving its safety protocols, including introducing more flexible criteria for determining when accounts are referred to authorities and establishing a direct point of contact with Canadian law enforcement.

In Altman’s letter, which was first published in the local newspaper Tumbler Ridgelines, he said he had discussed the shooting with Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka and British Columbia Premier David Eby, and they all agreed that “a public apology is needed,” but that “we also needed to take time to respect the communities in which you are grieving.”

“We deeply regret that we did not alert law enforcement about the account that was banned in June,” Altman said. “We know that words are never enough, but we believe an apology is necessary to recognize the harm and irreparable loss that has been suffered by our community.”

Altman also said that OpenAI “remains focused on working with all levels of government to ensure this never happens again.”

In a post on X, Eby said Altman’s apology was “necessary but totally insufficient for the devastation inflicted on the Tumbler Ridge families.”

Canadian authorities said they are considering new regulations regarding artificial intelligence but have not made any final decisions.

If you are in crisis or considering suicide, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988.