Families of Canadian Mass Shooting Victims Sue OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman in U.S. Court

Families of victims from one of Canada’s deadliest mass shootings have filed lawsuits against OpenAI and its chief executive Sam Altman in a U.S. federal court, alleging the company failed to act on warning signs prior to the attack. The cases, filed in San Francisco, center on claims that the company identified the shooter as a credible threat months before the incident but did not notify law enforcement authorities.

The February shooting took place in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, leaving nine people dead, including several children. The lawsuits argue that internal systems flagged concerning interactions involving the attacker as early as June 2025, when conversations reportedly included descriptions of violent scenarios. According to the complaints, OpenAI’s safety team recommended contacting authorities after assessing the risk as credible and imminent.

However, the plaintiffs allege that senior leadership overruled those recommendations and chose not to escalate the matter to law enforcement. The lawsuits claim that concerns about exposing the scale of violent interactions on ChatGPT and potential implications for the company’s business ambitions influenced that decision. The plaintiffs further contend that while the shooter’s account was eventually deactivated, she was able to create a new account and continue using the platform.

The accused individual, identified in court filings as Jesse Van Rootselaar, carried out the attack at her former school after first killing family members at home. The victims include students aged 12 to 13, along with school staff. One survivor, a 12-year-old girl, remains in intensive care after sustaining multiple gunshot wounds.

In response, OpenAI described the incident as a tragedy and emphasized its policies against misuse of its technology. The company stated that it has a zero-tolerance approach toward using AI tools to facilitate violence and has already taken steps to strengthen safeguards. These measures include improving how ChatGPT identifies distress signals, connecting users with mental health resources, enhancing threat detection systems, and tightening controls on repeat policy violators.

The lawsuits are part of a broader wave of legal challenges facing AI companies over allegations that chatbot interactions can contribute to harmful behavior, including violence and self-harm. Legal experts note that these cases could set significant precedents regarding the responsibility of AI platforms and their operators.

Attorney Jay Edelson, representing the plaintiffs, indicated that additional lawsuits may be filed in the coming weeks on behalf of other individuals affected by the tragedy. The current cases seek unspecified damages and call for a court mandate requiring OpenAI to overhaul its safety practices, including implementing stricter protocols for notifying law enforcement in cases of credible threats.

OpenAI has previously stated that it reports threats to authorities when conversations indicate an imminent risk of harm, with mental health professionals involved in assessing borderline cases. The company also noted that its models are continuously updated to better detect misuse and prevent harmful outcomes.

The legal battle comes at a time when OpenAI is already facing multiple lawsuits in the United States over allegations that its chatbot technology has contributed to dangerous or harmful behavior. These cases remain in early stages but are expected to shape how courts interpret liability in the context of artificial intelligence.

As the proceedings unfold, the lawsuits are likely to intensify scrutiny on how AI systems are monitored and regulated. The outcome could have far-reaching implications not only for OpenAI but also for the broader technology industry as it navigates the challenges of balancing innovation with public safety.