Altman apologizes after OpenAI failed to alert police before Tumbler Ridge killings

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — The president of OpenAI has written a letter apologizing for his company’s failure to alert law enforcement to the online behavior of a man who shot and killed eight people in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia.

In the letter published Friday, Sam Altman expressed his deepest condolences to the entire community.

“I deeply understand that we did not alert law enforcement about the account that was banned in June,” Altman said. “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.”

The letter, dated Thursday, was posted on BC Premier David Eby’s social media, as well as on local news site Tumbler RidgeLines on Friday.

On Feb. 10, the alleged gunman, 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, killed his mother, Jennifer Jacobs, 39, and his 11-year-old half-brother, Emmett Jacobs, at their home in northern British Columbia, then drove to nearby Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and opened fire, killing five children and an educator, before killing himself, police said.

25 people were also injured in the attack.

After the shootings, OpenAI said last June that the company identified Van Rootselaar’s account using abuse detection efforts to “advance violent activities.”

The San Francisco tech company said it evaluated whether to refer the account to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police but determined that the account activity did not meet the threshold for referral to law enforcement. OpenAI banned the account in June for violating its usage policy.

At the time, Eby said OpenAI appeared to have an opportunity to prevent a mass attack.

In his letter, Altman said he spoke with Tumbler Ridge Mayor Darryl Krakowka and Eby and they “communicated the anger, sadness and concern” felt in the community. It was acknowledged that a public apology was necessary, but time was needed for the community to grieve.

“I want to extend my deepest condolences to the entire community,” Altman said. “No one should have to endure such a tragedy. I can’t imagine anything worse in this world than losing a child.”

“My heart goes out to the victims”

Altman reiterated his commitment to finding ways to prevent similar tragedies.

“Our focus going forward will be to continue to work with all levels of government to ensure something like this never happens again,” he said.

Eby said in a social media post that the apology was “necessary, but grossly inadequate for the devastation inflicted on the families of Tumbler Ridge.”