New lawsuits claim OpenAI execs put image ahead of safety in Canadian mass shooting

Community members attend a vigil to honor the victims of one of Canada's deadliest mass shootings in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada, on February 13, 2026. Paige Taylor White/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

New lawsuits brought against OpenAI on Wednesday over a school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia , accuse the ChatGPT maker's executives of putting its public image ahead of public safety.

Thirty complaints were filed against OpenAI and its CEO, Sam Altman, in a San Francisco federal court by people present at the shooting, including students, teachers, and a principal. In April, families of seven other victims injured or killed in the February 2026 shooting sued OpenAI and Altman for failing to notify law enforcement of the alleged shooter's violent conversations with ChatGPT and aiding and abetting the shooting.

The new lawsuits make similar claims against OpenAI and Altman. But they also make new allegations that officials responsible for OpenAI's public relations, including chief global affairs officer Chris Lehane, overrode its safety team's recommendation that it refer the account to the authorities.

"What these complaints show is the larger impact and how many people's lives were really destroyed all based on decisions made by people at OpenAI," said Jay Edelson, the lead attorney representing the Tumbler Ridge victims and their families.

OpenAI disputed the claims about the company's internal decision-making.

"It's so frustrating to see one of the lawyers currently suing OpenAI make false claims not only about these teams, but individuals who were not involved in the process," Jason Kwon, OpenAI's chief strategy officer, said in an emailed statement to NPR.

"As just one example, it is absolutely false to say Chris Lehane was involved with our original referral decision, or that our investigators report to him in any way. It's also completely untrue to say that the people at the center of these challenging decisions do not prioritize safety, or that there are 'political' or 'public relations' factors at play," Kwon said. "We've been approaching this litigation with respect for both the legal process and the families and victims of this tragedy, and we'll continue to engage in good faith with that process."