A 13-year-old boy from Washington has been described as having an “obsession” with a past school shooter. Authorities arrested him after uncovering stockpiles of guns, boxes of ammunition, and disturbing writings that hinted at plans for self-harm.
The unnamed teenager was taken into custody when police executed a search warrant at a home in Tacoma. They had received numerous tips indicating he was harboring “school shooter ideas” and had bragged about having access to firearms, posing a potential risk, according to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.
During the search, law enforcement found 23 homemade firearms created using a 3D printer, along with a loaded magazine that referenced mass shooting incidents and writings related to “School Shooters.”
“This suspect seems to have everything prepared for a potential mass shooting,” Deputy Carly Kappett stated in a video shared on social media. He added that the target remained uncertain, but it seemed inevitable that something tragic might happen.
Video footage released by the sheriff’s office depicted several long guns and black AR-15s displayed on a table, with handguns scattered across the floor alongside ammunition in large boxes.
Most firearms were secured to the walls of the teenager’s home, but the handguns were more carefully protected, Kappett noted.
Additionally, authorities discovered a “go bag” in the boy’s bedroom filled with ammunition marked with graffiti associated with notable mass shootings, including Columbine High School, according to court documents.
Further evidence indicated that this troubled individual idolized past school shooters, replicating their actions through photos and writings throughout his room. He had also posted on social media referencing Columbine and the Uvalde shooting earlier in the year, adding a concerning dimension to his behavior.
One of his posts featured a semi-automatic rifle peeking out of what appeared to be a mandolin case used as a backpack, according to documents obtained by news outlets.
The teenager now faces charges, including threats to bomb or injure a school, two counts of illegal firearm possession, and one for unlawful possession of fireworks.
Interestingly, his parents have not been charged in connection with this case.
This incident occurred just weeks after a shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis by a 23-year-old who left behind a disturbing manifesto, expressing admiration for mass shooters and a long-standing fascination with violence.
