Police: Minnesota Teen Plotted Sophisticated Junior and Senior High School Bombing
Law enforcement officials say a teen was planning to kill his family and then create a diversion to keep police occupied while he bombed Waseca Junior/Senior High School.
WASECA, Minn. – Law enforcement officials arrested John David LaDue, 17, on Tuesday, claiming he was planning to kill his family and then create a diversion to keep police occupied while he bombed Waseca Junior/Senior High School.
LaDue had planned the attack to occur on April 20, the anniversary of Columbine. It didn’t happen because school was not in session that day due to it being Easter, reports CNN.
The suspect planned to set off pressure-cooker bombs full of nails and metal ball bearings in the school cafeteria during the lunch hour, reports the Star Tribune. LaDue would then shoot any students who were able to escape the bombing.
Police say the suspect plotted the attack for 10 months. He set off test bombs on the playgrounds of a nearby elementary school and church, as well as at local high school softball fields.
Authorities were alerted to LaDue’s activities by a woman who saw the suspect working in a storage facility. When police arrived at the storage unit, they saw what appeared to be bomb-making materials.
The suspect then told police he planned to kill his family. After that he would start a fire in the countryside to divert the attention of law enforcement and fire fighters. Then he would plant the bombs in school, shooting the school police officer as he attempted to respond, as well as any students who escaped. Police officials believe LaDue planned to carry out his attack within the next few weeks.
LaDue had no history of trouble at school.
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