In the state of Washington, a 13-year-old boy, perceived to harbor admiration for past mass shooters, has been detained following the discovery of an extensive assortment of firearms and writings suggestive of a “mass shooting scenario” at his residence, as reported by local law enforcement.

The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office was alerted on Friday about the young man, who allegedly displayed “school shooter ideations,” was reportedly issuing threats of lethal intent, and claimed to have access to firearms. The subsequent search of the boy’s home, carried out in the early hours of Saturday, unveiled a substantial number of both secured and unsecured guns, loaded magazines with writings linked to school shootings, as well as apparel and writings that depict a “typical mass shooting scenario.”

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Deputy Carly Cappetto of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office states that 23 firearms were discovered within the premises. Many of these appeared to be homemade long guns, crafted using 3D printed components. The teenager now faces charges of attempted threat to bomb/injure a school, unlawful possession of a firearm, and unlawful possession of fireworks, according to the court documents. His scheduled court appearance is on Monday.

The boy’s parents have not been charged at this time, as confirmed by Deputy Cappetto. The teenager’s social media activity, dating as far back as June, showcased him wielding firearms and contained messages that seemingly expressed a “fascination with recent school shootings/mass casualty attacks,” as per the court records. Authorities managed to retrieve posts that appeared to reference the 1999 Columbine High School mass shooting and the 2022 Uvalde, Texas, elementary school mass shooting.

Further inspection of the boy’s home led to the recovery of materials potentially intended for the creation of fireworks and explosives. The sheriff’s office noted that the boy is not currently enrolled in any school district, having last attended the Franklin Pierce School District in 2021. The spokesperson for the Franklin Pierce School District indicated that they have been informed by local law enforcement of the arrest of a young individual in their community for supposedly planning a school shooting. They have reiterated their commitment to working with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office to ensure the safety of their schools and community.

This raises important questions about the potential threats our schools face and underscores the crucial role of vigilance in maintaining the safety of our communities.