Washington resident detained over Canada school shooting conspiracy

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 13 Oct, 23:32 · Archive

A Washington state resident has been ordered detained pending trial on charges of conspiring in a Canadian school shooting that killed eight people.

Melody Bryant, also known as James Cody Bryant, of Bellingham, Washington, has been ordered detained pending further hearings after being charged this month with conspiring to murder people in a foreign country. Investigators said she provided assistance to Jesse Van Rootselaar, who killed eight people and wounded 27 in the mountain community of Tumbler Ridge in February.

According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle, Bryant declined to report Van Rootselaar's plans, agreed to distribute a livestream of the attack, provided money and shared advice on how to delete online messages to keep the plot secret. At a detention hearing on Tuesday, Magistrate Judge Mary Alice Theiler said she did not believe there were any conditions, such as internet restrictions, that could ensure the safety of the community if Bryant were released pending trial.

Bryant has not entered a plea. Her public defender, Greg Murphy, argued for her release pending trial, noting that federal agents first interviewed Bryant just days after the attack and allowed her to remain free for seven months before charging her. Murphy said he had not yet been provided with evidence needed to evaluate the government's case.

How it is being reported

• Washington resident charged with conspiracy in Canada shool shooting is ordered detainedA Washington state resident charged with conspiracy in one of the worst school shootings in Canada’s history has been ordered detained pending further hearings in the case.Clickorlando · 13 Oct, 23:06
• Washington resident charged with conspiracy in Canada shool shooting is ordered detainedA Washington state resident charged with conspiracy in one of the worst school shootings in Canada’s history has been ordered detained pending further hearings in the case.News4Jax · 13 Oct, 23:06

In this story: Melody Bryant · Jesse Van Rootselaar · Tumbler Ridge · Washington · Bellingham

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem