By Associated Press
MARSHFIELD, Mass. - A 16-year-old high school student was in custody after police uncovered a plot that allegedly included plans to kill teachers and students and detonate explosives.
The Marshfield High School teenager, who was not named, was arrested Sept. 17 after police turned up evidence of the alleged plan, which was to have taken place next April, authorities said.
“There were specifically identified teachers, there were specifically identified students who were going to be murdered,” Marshfield Police Chief William Sullivan said at a news conference Wednesday.
A search of woods near his house found evidence that an explosive device had been detonated as part of a test, and a search of his house turned up a “shopping list” of guns and ammunition, police said.
The search also turned up diagrams of the school, with exits marked, as well as information downloaded from Web sites about weapons dealer, bombs and explosive devices, police said.
Police said the alleged attack was planned to coincide with the anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre. During that attack on April 20, 1999, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed a teacher and 12 of their classmates, then killed themselves.
Police declined to discuss the arrest in extensive detail, because the student is a juvenile.
He was arraigned in juvenile court on Sept. 20 on eight charges of threats to commit a crime. He was arraigned the next day on additional charges of promotion of anarchy and attempt to commit a crime, to wit murder.
He was ordered held without bail. At dangerousness hearing last Thursday in Plymouth, he was found to be a danger to the community and was ordered held without bail for 90 days.