Riverdale Actor Allegedly Planned to Kill Justin Trudeau After Murdering His Mother

Ryan Grantham, a Canadian actor who appeared in Riverdale and Diary of a Wimpy Kid, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for killing his mother in March, but new details reveal he allegedly planned to kill Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as well.

Grantham's hearing began on Monday in the British Columbia Supreme Court, where prosecutors revealed his alleged plan. According to CBC News, Grantham fatally shot his 64-year-old mother, Barbara Waite, in the back of the head as she played piano in March 2020.

The next day, according to CBC, he loaded his vehicle with three guns, ammunition, 12 Molotov cocktails, camping supplies, and a map to Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, where Trudeau lives with his family. Prior to driving to Trudeau's home, Grantham allegedly tested one of the Molotov cocktails in a remote area but then turned the car around with a plan to commit a mass attack at his school, Simon Fraser University, or other locations.

Grantham, now 24, turned himself in to the Vancouver police and told one of the officers, "I killed my mother." According to Complex Canada, Grantham also told police of his plan to kill Trudeau, and he wrote the plan in his private journal, excerpts of which were read in court.

Prosecutor Michaela Donnelly said that Grantham killed his mother "to spare her from seeing the violence he intended to commit." After initially being charged with first-degree murder, Grantham pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

Grantham appeared in one episode of Riverdale in 2019, playing Jeffery Augustine, who killed Archie's dad, Fred Andrews (Luke Perry), in a hit-and-run. He has also appeared in Supernatural, iZombie, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.

Deena ElGenaidi's writing has been featured in Nylon, MTV News, Insider, The AV Club, and more. You can follow her on Twitter @deenaelg.