Killer posted his sick plot
Shoots 2 in N.M. after saying life is horrible
If things go according to plan, today would be when I die. WILLIAM ATCHINSON
THE DERANGED gunman who killed two students at a New Mexico high school described in an eerie social media message posted just minutes before the rampage how he intended to go “ape-s--t,” hold people hostage and, finally, take his own life, authorities said Friday.
The murderer, identified as 21-year-old William Atchinson, used to attend Aztec High School, where he fatally shot Casey Marquez and Francisco Fernandez before he committed suicide Thursday morning.
Atchinson, who worked at a gas station, detailed his plans in a disturbing message posted on an online gaming forum, New Mexico State Police Chief Pete Kassetas said during a press conference.
“If things go according to plan, today would be when I die,” Atchinson posted at 6:51 a.m. — just over an hour before he went on the murderous spree. “I wait until the school buses are detected, then head on foot disguised as a student. I go somewhere and gear up, then hold a class hostage and go ape-s--t, then blow my brains out.”
Atchinson gave no clear motive for killing Marquez and Fernandez but capped off his unsettling post: “Work sucks, school sucks, life sucks. I Just want out of this s--t.”
He ducked into a bathroom after sneaking into the school shortly before 8 a.m. There, he encountered Fernandez and shot him dead. Atchinson then walked into the hallway where he killed Marquez, officials said.
Teachers and students cowered inside classrooms and bathrooms after the gunshots rang out. Atchinson proceeded to walk up and down hallways, firing at random, but no one else was injured. Within minutes of opening fire, officials believe Atchinson killed himself.
Thursday wasn’t the first time Atchinson made disturbing comments online. He was investigated by the FBI last year after he made “outlandish statements” on another gaming forum, but the bureau concluded its investigation without bringing charges after they determined that Atchinson didn’t own guns, had no ties to suspect organizations and no apparent plans for an attack. Last month, Atchinson legally bought the Glock pistol he used on Thursday, according to authorities. Chief Kassetas said Atchinson appears to have picked his victims at random.
“They were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Kassetas said.
A candlelight vigil was held Thursday night for Fernandez, a junior football player, and Marquez, the school’s cheerleading captain.
“We will miss you so much sweet baby sister,” Marquez’s older sister, Keane, posted on Facebook after the vigil.
A thumb drive was found on Atchinson after the shooting and FBI officials are scouring over its contents. Kassetas would not comment on what was on it but said it was “very obvious” Atchinson wanted police to find it.
Investigators said Atchinson likely planned the attack for weeks, bringing several magazines with him in an attempt to shoot as many people as possible. Since most students were able to lock themselves in classrooms, officials said the number of people killed in Thursday’s tragedy pales in comparison to recent massacres in Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs, Texas, both of which saw dozens of people killed at the hands of gun-wielding maniacs.
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez said the families of the victims are “absolutely broken” and decried Atchinson as a coldblooded killer.
“The fact that you carry a gun into a school with multiple magazines and start shooting at people, that to me is pure evil,” Martinez said.