Sam Altman Apologizes to Tumbler Ridge After OpenAI Failed to Alert Police

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman apologized to the community of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, saying he was “deeply sorry” that his company failed to alert law enforcement about the ChatGPT account of the person accused of a mass shooting.

“OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has apologised over his company’s failure to warn authorities about the concerning online activities of a teen who went on to commit one of Canada’s worst mass shootings”

Al Jazeera

In a letter dated April 23 and published by the local news site Tumbler RidgeLines, Altman wrote, “I am deeply sorry that we did not alert law enforcement to the account that was banned in June,” and added, “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.”

Al Jazeera

The apology was tied to the case of 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, whom police say killed eight people in Tumbler Ridge on Feb. 10, and who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during the attack.

Multiple outlets described how OpenAI had banned Van Rootselaar’s ChatGPT account in June 2025 after detecting “problematic usage” and “an indication of potential real-world violence,” but did not refer the matter to police at the time.

The BBC said the letter was sent on Thursday to the community of the small town, while CBC reported that OpenAI shared the letter with Tumbler RidgeLines, which published it in full, and that OpenAI confirmed its authenticity.

Altman also wrote that “time was also needed to respect the community as you grieved,” and he told the community, “The pain your community has endured is unimaginable.”

In a post on X, British Columbia Premier David Eby called the apology “necessary, and yet grossly insufficient for the devastation done to the families of Tumbler Ridge.”

The apology centered on what OpenAI said it knew before the Feb. 10 attack and what it did not do.

Several reports said OpenAI identified Van Rootselaar’s account through abuse-detection efforts and banned it in June 2025, but determined at the time that the activity did not meet its threshold for referral to law enforcement.

BBC

The BBC wrote that OpenAI did not alert or refer the matter to police at the time because it “did not meet its threshold of a credible or imminent plan for serious physical harm to others.”

CBS News similarly described that OpenAI weighed whether to flag the account to law enforcement but concluded it did not pose an “imminent and credible risk of serious physical harm to others.”

The Guardian said OpenAI “considered whether to refer the account to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police but determined at the time that the account activity didn’t meet a threshold for referral to law enforcement.”

After the shooting, OpenAI told CBS News it “proactively reached out to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police with information on the individual and their use of ChatGPT.”

CBC added that the company’s account was “flagged for problematic activity in advance of the tragedy but was not escalated to alerting authorities in Canada.”

The apology drew immediate reaction from provincial leadership and was framed by OpenAI as part of a broader safety effort.

“- Sam Altman apologized to a community in Canada after a mass shooting by a banned ChatGPT user”

Business Insider

In a post on X, Premier David Eby said Altman’s apology is “necessary, and yet grossly insufficient for the devastation done to the families of Tumbler Ridge.”

TechCrunch reported that Altman’s letter discussed the shooting with Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka and Premier David Eby, and that “they’d all agreed “a public apology was necessary,” but “time was also needed to respect the community as you grieved.”

CBC reported that the District of Tumbler Ridge said the letter “may evoke a range of emotions, and we encourage everyone to take the time and space they need,” and it quoted Krakowka saying, “We are committed to supporting those impacted and ensuring that “care, respect, and accountability remain at the forefront as we move forward.””

In the letter itself, Altman told the community, “The pain your community has endured is unimaginable,” and he wrote, “I cannot imagine anything worse in this world than losing a child.”

The Guardian said Altman told the community, “No one should ever have to endure a tragedy like this,” and it quoted him saying, “I cannot imagine anything worse in this world than losing a child.”

TechCrunch quoted Altman’s focus on “working with all levels of government to help ensure nothing happens like this again.”

While all the reports centered on Altman’s apology and the failure to alert law enforcement, they emphasized different details about timing, thresholds, and the sequence of events.

TechCrunch described the account as being flagged and banned in June 2025 after the Wall Street Journal reported that Van Rootselaar “described scenarios involving gun violence,” and it said OpenAI’s staff debated alerting police before reaching out to Canadian authorities after the shooting.

CBC

Engadget similarly said the apology came “Two months following the deadly shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia,” and it highlighted that OpenAI had banned the account for violating its usage policy due to potential for real-world violence.

The Guardian focused on the letter’s appearance and the specific date, saying the letter was posted on Friday and dated Thursday, and it detailed the police account of the attack, including that “Twenty-five people were also injured in the attack.”

France 24 (AFP) tied the apology to Canadian officials’ response, saying “Canadian officials condemned OpenAI's handling of the case and summoned company leaders to Ottawa to explain its security protocols.”

CBC and BBC both described the letter’s publication through Tumbler RidgeLines and confirmed authenticity, but CBC added the District of Tumbler Ridge’s statement about emotions and a coroner’s inquest, while BBC emphasized OpenAI’s threshold reasoning and the “credible or imminent plan” language.

Business Insider framed the apology as part of “mounting scrutiny” and included the detail that Van Rootselaar “killed eight people and injured dozens of others” in Tumbler Ridge, while also noting OpenAI’s explanation about not referring the matter due to its threshold.

The apology also landed amid legal action and broader questions about AI safety and reporting.

“OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has apologized to members of a Canadian community where took place earlier this year for not flagging the ChatGPT account of to law enforcement”

CBS News

CBC reported that the company is being sued by one Tumbler Ridge family, with the allegation that “had specific knowledge of the shooter's long-range planning of a mass casualty event,” but “took no steps to act upon this knowledge.”

CBS News

The BBC similarly said “The parents of one child who was shot and severely injured during Van Rootselaar's attack on the school have sued OpenAI,” and it described the claim that the company “had specific knowledge of the shooter's long-range planning of a mass casualty event,” but “took no steps to act upon this knowledge.”

France 24 (AFP) said the family of a girl who was shot and gravely wounded at the school is suing OpenAI for negligence, and it stated that Canadian officials condemned OpenAI’s handling and summoned company leaders to Ottawa.

TechCrunch and Indiatimes both said Canadian officials are considering new regulations on artificial intelligence, while noting that no final decisions have been announced.

TechCrunch said OpenAI’s safety changes include “more flexible criteria in place to determine when accounts get referred to authorities” and “establishing direct points of contact with Canadian law enforcement,” and it quoted Altman saying the company’s focus will “continue to be on working with all levels of government to help ensure nothing happens like this again.”

CBS News reported that Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier opened a criminal investigation into OpenAI after reviewing messages between ChatGPT and a Florida State University student, and it said his office was issuing subpoenas to OpenAI requesting records of protocols for reporting possible crimes to law enforcement.