ChatGPT account used before Canadian school shooting, OpenAI did not report to police
ChatGPT was reportedly used by an 18-year-old for months before carrying out a shooting in Tumbler Ridge, Canada on 10 February 2026 that killed nine people. OpenAI suspended the account after detecting misuse involving discussions of gun violence but did not report it to police. Canadian government officials called for improvements to OpenAI's hazard reporting procedures.
What happened
On 10 February 2026, a shooting occurred in Tumbler Ridge, western Canada, in which nine people died. According to investigations, an 18-year-old person killed eight people, six of them in a school, before taking their own life.
Months before the incident, the shooter reportedly used ChatGPT to develop scenarios involving gun violence, according to reporting by CBC. OpenAI suspended the account but did not report the activity to law enforcement.
Reported impact
Nine people were killed in the shooting. Evan Solomon, Canada's Minister for Artificial Intelligence, stated after meeting with OpenAI's security team that Canadians expect credible warning signs for serious violence to be escalated promptly and responsibly to authorities.
Index analysis
The incident raises questions about OpenAI's protocols for identifying and reporting imminent risks of violence when they occur on the ChatGPT platform. Solomon stated that OpenAI had not initially presented significant new security measures in response.
Governance controls
OpenAI suspended the user's account after detecting the misuse. However, no notification to law enforcement followed. OpenAI indicated it would present more concrete proposals tailored to the Canadian context.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.