13-Year-Old Arrested with 23 Guns After Alleged School Shooting Threats in Washington

averted Tragedy and Investigation

• 🚨 A possible tragedy was averted due to a tip about a 13-year-old making online threats with guns.
• 🔍 Pierce County Sheriff deputies received the tip on Friday, leading to a SWAT team intervention at 1:00 a.m. Saturday.

Discovery of Weapons and Disturbing Materials

• 🔫 Deputies found 23 weapons at the teen's home: eight handguns, two shotguns, and the rest semi-automatic rifles.
• 📦 Several boxes of ammunition were also discovered, with some firearms and ammo found openly in the house.
• ⚠️ Disturbingly, loaded magazines inscribed with references to the Columbine massacre were allegedly found in the teen's go bag.

Online Activity and Past Fixations

• 📱 Investigators noted the teen posted photos of himself holding guns online and made a threat on Telegram: "When I turn 21, I'll kill people."
• 🎯 The teen was reportedly fixated on past attacks, including the 2017 Charleston church shooting and the 2022 Uvalde school shooting.
• 🏫 Despite online references to school shootings, investigators stated the teen had no plans to attack a specific school and had been homeschooled since 2021.

Legal Ramifications and Parental Responsibility

• ⚖️ The 13-year-old pleaded not guilty to unlawful firearms possession and making a threat, and is currently in juvenile detention.
• 🧐 Authorities are reviewing whether the parents could be charged, considering Washington state law regarding minors accessing firearms and leading to harm or credible threats.
• ❓ The investigation into how the teen purchased the weapons and the parents' role in safe storage is ongoing, with the prosecutor's office awaiting the case file.