Pierce County teen had shooting ‘go bag,’ idolized mass shooters, charges say
A former Pierce County student suspected of “school shooting ideations” and threats to kill has a fascination with previous shootings across the country, according to investigators.
Prosecutors charged the 13-year-old boy with attempted threat to bomb or injure property, three counts of second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of fireworks, court documents show. Investigators say the teen committed the crimes between June 29 and Sept. 6.
A plea of not guilty was entered on the teenager’s behalf during his arraignment at the Pierce County Juvenile Court on Monday. Judge Joseph Evans ordered the teen be held in secure detention at Remann Hall. A review hearing has been set for Sept. 22.
Investigators were alerted to the teenager’s alleged school-shooting threats from his social media posts across several platforms. One of the posts from June 30 said, “u’d never expect it,” and included the barrel of a rifle visible in a photo taken in the boy’s parents’ bedroom, according to charging documents.
The teenager allegedly posted selfies with unsecured weapons inside his home while dressed in attire similar to that of past school shooters. Detectives noted in charging documents that the boy used his real name and birthday on some of the accounts.
Documents show some of the posts referenced the Columbine High School massacre from April 1999 in Colorado when 12 students and a teacher were killed. The FBI notes that the shooting has inspired several copycat attacks in the country.
Detectives learned through the investigation that the boy was homeschooled after he was unenrolled from the Franklin Pierce School District in 2021. Charging documents did not say why the boy was taken out of the school district.
SWAT was used to serve a search warrant at the home in the 13500 block of 20th Avenue Court East in Clover Creek where the boy lives. He was arrested early Saturday morning, according to the Sheriff’s Office.
The boy was read his Miranda rights during his arrest, and detectives noted he was the same person in the social media selfies, documents show.
Several firearms were found in the home, including AR rifles, documents show. Multiple ammunition magazines were found in the boy’s bedroom as well. The Sheriff’s Office says a total of 23 firearms were in the home, with some mounted on the walls and accessible. Handguns were also found unsecured.
Investigators found a notebook with writing that said, “I think I finally got my load out done.” There was also a note about a firearm and ammunition. Detectives wrote that the “load out” mentioned in the notebook might have referred to a heavy backpack that contained boxes of ammunition and magazines with writing referencing mass shooters. Detectives described it as a “go-bag” for a shooting, documents show.
Fireworks and a smoke grenade were also found in the home, according to charging documents. Detectives wrote that the Columbine shooters had used improvised explosive devices, which the boy might have been interested in.
Documents show that the boy’s parents and brother were detained during the search. His mother told detectives that her son used fireworks in the past and also made his own.
The Sheriff’s Office wrote on Facebook that it is unknown what or who the boy intended to target but that the boy appeared to be ready to commit a mass shooting. The post also indicated more information would be released as the investigation continues.
This story was originally published September 9, 2025 at 3:23 PM.
