A Penn High School student was arrested after a school resource officer found alarming postings and e-mails the student had exchanged with another person. (Tribune File Photo/Margarita Bilbrey)
Story Created:
Apr 24, 2008 at 2:40 PM EDT
Story Updated:
Apr 24, 2008 at 5:47 PM EDT
ST. JOSEPH CO. — A Penn High School student is being held on preliminary charges of conspiracy to commit murder. Police arrested the 16-year-old at the school Tuesday.
A resource officer there found alarming postings and e-mails the student had exchanged with another person.
The prosecutor’s office says they were discussing a plan to commit violence in public. Specifically, they wanted to carry out an attack similar to Columbine.
But because of a popular website, police may have stopped that from happening.
“I have a laptop computer in my car and we can get on MySpace, just check it out and see what’s going on,” said Penn High School Resource Officer David Sult.
Sult hopped on the website earlier this week when he discovered disturbing conversations the suspect was having with another person. They included carrying out Columbine-like mass murders at Penn High School on September 11.
“The juvenile and the other person discussed obtaining weapons of mass destruction and firearms,” St. Joseph County Prosecutor Michael Dvorak explained. “The juvenile agreed with the other person to research how to make explosive devices.”
Prosecutors say the suspect also asked the other person to help him get a 9 mm handgun.
"And stated that it would be ‘awesome’ if he cold use the same weapon that was used in the Columbine shootings,” Dvorak said.
Some students say the news is alarming.
“Just knowing kids can get it easily these days is, I don’t know, kind of scary,” Penn student Kenny Haithcox told WSBT News.
But for others, the thought of a Columbine-like attack happening here has never crossed their minds.
"There are people that are mad about stuff, but I can't honestly see anyone doing anything like that,” said student Molly Johnson. “I mean, I know it's happened but I feel safe here. They're always watching out for everything."
“This is the second time it’s happened in two weeks,’ said student Ryan Watts. “I just think it’s kids acting stupid.”
The suspect remains in the Juvenile Justice Center. He'll appear in court Friday for a detention hearing.
Police would not say very much about the other person the suspect was talking to. They said he does not live in this state and he's not a juvenile. Officers in that other state are still investigating.
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Sunday, May 11 at 9:10 PM penn student wrote ...
why must we bicker about the irrelivant. speaking from my own knowledge. the boy was bullied beyond belief and considering phsychological study you have to consider how much that bullying could effect such a young boy. i myself have been a severe victem of bullying and understand the hurt he must have felt. i by no means support what his plans but i do understand the sadness in his heart to drive him there. stop blameing the "perfect school" and start focusing on the real cause, his peers.