Affidavit: Students plotted to ‘blow this place to pieces’ on Columbine anniversary
Arrested suspect due to appear in court today Parents want more information
An already stressful period for anybody associated with Rappahannock High School — students, parents and teachers — grew even more anxious this week when a court affidavit revealed that two students counted down the days until last Thursday — the anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting massacre — when they allegedly plotted to “make Columbine look like a joke” and “blow this place to pieces.”
Adding to the restive undercurrent, law enforcement officials have remained virtually silent in their investigation that has now entered its third week, even as chilling new details of the threat contained in the newly obtained court documents — first reported by this newspaper Sunday evening — made headlines this week across the United States, from NBC in San Diego to the New York Times, to as far away as Europe.
Meanwhile, it’s been learned that one of the two suspects — a 17-year-old who was arrested by the Rappahannock County Sheriff’s office for conspiracy to possess a firearm on the property of the high school — will appear in Rappahannock Juvenile Court today (Thursday, April 27), at which time the court and attorneys will determine subsequent steps.
According to Rappahannock County district court clerk Pat Davis, the juvenile has already appeared at a detention hearing in Fauquier district court. There the office of the public defender was appointed to represent him, but the name of the
chosen attorney is not yet known. Juvenile cases are normally closed to the public.
But since the arrest and the court affidavit being made public, this newspaper and its various web and social media sites have been inundated with comments from parents and others in the community expressing fear if not shock.
“Scary stuff,” former Rappahannock County Administrator John W. McCarthy posted above one such online Rappahannock News story this week, “so glad people alerted others before a tragedy struck.”
Some have called for metal detectors in the schools, others for people to remain calm; some blame the schools for lax security, others the parents for lax discipline. But a main theme is the desire for more information. So far, any dialogue outside of the high school from school officials has consisted of one letter sent home and two “robocalls” to parents.
Reached Wednesday, Rappahannock County School Board member Lucy Ann Maeyer praised the response of interim school Superintendent Gary Blair throughout the ordeal, saying he’s “done a very good job particularly when the sheriff can’t release a lot of information. It makes it hard to be fair if you don’t have all the facts.”
The current whereabouts of the 17-year-old’s alleged accomplice could not be determined, other than that the 16-year-old is not attending school. The sheriff’s office would not comment on whether additional students are under investigation.
In a telephone interview Sunday, Sheriff Connie Compton stressed that the investigation is ongoing and for that reason she cannot comment beyond what has already been said. She did say that “further charges” could be forthcoming.
Meanwhile, in a recorded phone message delivered to parents on Tuesday, high school principal Mike Tupper said class assemblies, with counselors in attendance, were held this week to discuss the incident. He reportedly also urged parents to talk to their children.
THE AFFIDAVIT
“Over the course of several conversations,” according to the affidavit for a search warrant served by Rappahannock County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Major J.D. Arstino Jr., “beginning in approximately December 2016 and possibly as early as November 2016, [Suspect No. 1, the 17-year-old] continued statements about Columbine began leading to his revealing an intent to commit an act of violence at Rappahannock County High School.”
Furthermore, the document states, Suspect 1 “would discuss the actions of the two (2) mass murderers from the Columbine incident in detail referring to them by name — Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris.”
Then this chilling revelation: “On April 5, 2017, while at Rappahannock County High School, [Suspect 1] was overheard speaking with at least one other student where he gave a ‘countdown’ stating ‘fifteen more days,’ indicating the number of days left until the date of April 20, 2017” — the 18th anniversary of the Columbine massacre in Colorado.
During the same exchange, Suspect 1 was seen showing a photograph on a cellular device to one if not more students: “The photograph depicted [Suspects 1 and 2] dressed all in black clothing, black hats and wearing sunglasses and [Suspect 2] commented while showing the photograph, ‘I can’t wait for four twenty.”
“[Suspect 1] was quoted during that time frame as making statements such as, ‘I can’t wait to make Columbine look like a joke’ and in another conversation, ‘I’m going to blow this place to pieces.’”
It was a fellow student of the two juvenile suspects who sounded the alarm to authorities, possibly averting a tragedy.
Suspect 1 also reportedly “disclosed having ‘ordered’ an amount of explosives to be used during the school incident as well. [Suspect 1] showed a photograph on a cellular device to at least one other person and stating, ‘This is what I’ve got, are you ready for this?’”
As for additional weapons, the affidavit states that Suspect 1 “referred to pulling a pistol out of a backpack. [Suspect 1] is described as very guarded with his backpack in school and will not allow anyone to touch it and makes statements implying it contains something of value. [Suspect 1] has also made the statement, ‘I’ll save that for another day’ when referring to what the backpack contains.
“When referencing firearms, [Suspect 1] has specifically referenced bringing a ‘Tech 9’ [assault pistol] and ‘M-4’ [assault rifle] to school and has discussed using a twelve (12) gauge shotgun to discharge ‘birdshot’ ammunition down a hallway of the school,” the document states.
Suspect 1, it continues, “has also made statements of ‘blowing his brains out’ with a 12 gauge shotgun.”
“In conversations during this time frame, [Suspect 2] has discussed his role as a coconspirator with [Suspect 1]. [Suspect 2] would make references of black bags containing ammunition, and backpacks containing pistols and rifles. [Suspect 2] further stated in conversation ‘I can’t forget the black bag under the lunch table.’
“When discussing their movements inside of the school while possessing the firearms, [Suspect 1] has stated ‘I will be the head guy and you just come up behind me’ and [Suspect 2’s] response was ‘Oh, sounds like a plan boss.’”
During their search of Suspect 1’s residence, which is within walking distance of the Rappahannock County Courthouse just outside Washington town limits, authorities seized as evidence a handwritten document, hockey mask, two Hewlett-Packard computers (one from the suspect’s bedroom, the other from the main living area), and an Xbox.
Sheriff Compton would not comment as to whether a subsequent search has taken place of Suspect 2’s residence
Then this chilling revelation, according to the affidavit: “On April 5, 2017, while at Rappahannock County High School, [Suspect 1] was overheard speaking with at least one other student where he gave a ‘countdown’ stating ‘fifteen more days,’ indicating the number of days left until the date of April 20, 2017”
— the 18th anniversary of the Columbine massacre in Colorado.
BACK TO SCHOOL
Meanwhile, classes resumed at the high school last Tuesday following spring break, although interim superintendent Blair acknowledged to this newspaper that he thought long and hard about keeping the school closed.
As late as Easter Sunday night, he said, “I wasn’t about to open the school.”
But last Monday Sheriff Compton convinced the superintendent that the threat to the high school was removed, while assuring him that enhanced security measures were in place to keep students safe.
Nevertheless, Blair admitted, “I didn’t sleep Monday night.”
Just before 7 a.m. Tuesday morning, Virginia State Police K-9 units wrapped up a sweep of the entire school. Blair was also on hand to greet returning teachers, who arrived early for a hastily called faculty meeting during which they were first told of the threats against the school.
At the same time, the teachers were told to keep their classroom doors locked at all times; require students leaving class for any reason to “sign out” by name, including the time and destination; and to even keep an eye out for backpacks left unattended on the floor.
Said one school official: teachers must be “extremely vigilant for the rest of the year.”
WHAT’S NEXT
As for the 17-year-old’s court appearance today, one legal expert not connected to the case and who requested anonymity described the usual process for handling a juvenile charged with a crime.
Juveniles, he said, are sent to youth detention centers rather than adult jails. According to Virginia’s criminal code, juveniles must receive a preliminary hearing, called a “detention hearing,” no later than 72 hours after being detained. Parents or guardians must also be present.
A juvenile has all the rights of an adult, including the right to remain silent and the right to counsel.