OpenAI CEO apologizes to Tumbler Ridge community

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

After police identified 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar as the alleged shooter who killed eight people, The Wall Street Journal reported on this OpenAI flagged and banned Van Rootselaar’s ChatGPT account in June 2025 after he described scenarios involving gun violence. Company employees reported to the police and argued, however in the end he decided against iteventually turned himself in to Canadian authorities after the shooting.

OpenAI has since said it is improving security protocolsfor example, by setting more flexible criteria for determining when to refer accounts to authorities and by establishing direct points of contact with Canadian law enforcement agencies.

The one in Altman’s letter first published in the local Tumbler RidgeLines newspaperThe CEO said he had discussions with Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka and British Columbia Premier David Eby about the shooting, and all said “a public apology was needed,” but “when you’re grieving, you also need time to respect the community.”

“I deeply regret that we did not notify law enforcement about the banned account in June,” Altman said. “While I know words will never be enough, I believe an apology is necessary to recognize the damage and irreparable loss your community has suffered.”

Altman also said that OpenAI’s focus will be “on continuing to work with all levels of government to ensure that this never happens again.”

In Writing in XEby said Altman’s apology was “necessary but still insufficient for the devastation done to the families of Tambler Ridge.”

Canadian officials said they were is considering new rules on artificial intelligence but did not make any final decision.

If you are in crisis or suicidal, call or text 988 to contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline..