Skip to main content

Pennsylvania 'school shooting plot' foiled after police find arsenal of weapons in teenager's bedroom

A classmate allegedly overheard the suspect threatening to shoot four students
Uniontown Area Senior High School in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, in an image from Google street view, 2013.
Just days after high school shootings in Texas and Kentucky, an alleged school shooting plot in Pennsylvania has been thwarted.
Police found multiple guns and machetes in a 14-year-old high school student’s bedroom after receiving a tip from one of the suspect’s classmates.
According to officials, the classmate allegedly overheard the suspect threatening to shoot four students at Uniontown Area Senior High School, located about 70 miles south of Pittsburgh in Uniontown, Pennsylvania.
The student who overheard the conversation recorded it, said Fayette County District Attorney Richard Bower, according to CBS News. The person then told their parents, who contacted police. 
When authorities went to the suspect's home, they found an arsenal of weapons in his bedroom including a semi-automatic rifle, a shotgun, two machetes, throwing knives, two lever-action rifle, a revolver, a crossbow with arrows, and bulk ammunition for all of the weapons.
It is unclear how the suspect obtained the weapons.
“Quite frankly the parent and the child who reported this are the heroes,” Mr Bower said at a news conference. “Had they not reported this, there could have been a major catastrophe at Uniontown High School.” 
Asked about why the suspect allegedly wanted to target the four students, Mr Bower responded: “He didn't like them. That's what he said, he didn't like them. What a reason to do something.”
The teen suspect was arrested and is being charged with making terroristic threats, possession of a firearm by a minor, and criminal attempt to commit catastrophe, according to CBS.
He is being held in a juvenile detention centre and his parents are cooperating with police.
​Uniontown Area High School released a statement to the station saying that “security has increased throughout a number of our schools today.”
“The district would like to thank the Pennsylvania State Police, the Uniontown City Police, as well as our students, parents and staff members for their assistance and efforts to ensure a safe and productive day of education,” it said.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ex-President Omar al-Bashir sent to prison days after he was ousted in a military coup

Sudan's former President Omar al-Bashir has been moved to Kobar maximum security prison, days after he was deposed in a military coup.   Reports say the ex-leader has until now been detained at the presidential residence under heavy guard. He is reportedly being held in solitary confinement and is surrounded by tight security.   Months of protests in Sudan led to the ousting and arrest of the long-time ruler on Thursday. Uganda's Minister for Foreign Affairs Henry Oryem Okello told Reuters news agency the country would consider offering the deposed leader asylum if he applied, despite an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).   As an ICC member, Uganda would have to hand over Mr Bashir if he arrived in the country. The ICC has not yet commented. Until now, Bashir's whereabouts since his removal were unknown. The coup leader at the time, Awad Ibn Auf, said Mr Bashir was being detained in a "safe place". He himself stoo...
Post a Comment
Read more

APC youth leader shot dead by suspected armed robbers while attempting to rescue female petrol station attendant in Edo State

  Unknown gunmen suspected to be armed robbers on Wednesday, March 28, shot dead the youth leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Etsako West local government of Edo State, Samson Sedi. Sedi, popularly known as Power Remain, was allegedly killed by armed robbers while attempting to rescue a female petrol station attendant at  NNPC mega in Jattu, Etsako West Local Government Area, who was being robbed on Wednesday in Jattu. The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has expressed shock at the news of the brutal killing of Mr Sedi. "I was shocked on receiving the news of Mr. Samson Sedi’s death. My heart goes out to his family. I have ordered the relevant security agencies to arrest the killers and prosecute them without delay,” Obaseki said. He described the late Sedi as “a grassroots mobiliser, a philanthropist who cared for orphans and a great lover of people, whose death is a huge loss to Edo people and the APC.” “I learnt he was d...
Post a Comment
Read more

Community leader, two others shot in Plateau attacks

                        The district head of Gashis community in Plateau State and two others were shot on Sunday evening, an official has said. The transition management committee chairman of Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, Dickson Chollom, on Monday reported the shooting of the district head in his house and that of two others in a barber’s shop in Barkin Ladi by armed men. “Gwom Rwei Gashis (the district head) is unconscious and has been rushed down to Barkin Ladi general hospital,” he said. Mr Chollom said the special task force on the Jos crisis (STF), also known as “Operation Safe Heaven” reported the shooting of the community leader to him. “Gashis commander, Awolor, confirmed to me that Mr Gashis’ residence was attacked and burned down.” Mr Chollom, in a text message on Monday morning, told PREMIUM TIMES that the community le...
Post a Comment
Read more