Minn. Teen Pleads Guilty to Plotting School Bombing
John LaDue told police he planned to set off homemade explosive devices in his high school cafeteria.
A teen prosecutors say had an elaborate plot to bomb his high school and shoot survivors plead guilty to a felony September 18.
John LaDue, 18, will be sentenced October 19 after admitting to planning a sophisticated attack for ten months before police found him with bomb-making materials last year. LaDue will be sent to a secure treatment facility for people with autism spectrum disorder, according to kstp.com.
RELATED: Students Help Stop Alleged School Shooting Plot
LaDue was charged with one count of possessing an explosive device as part of a plea agreement to drop the other five counts he was facing. LaDue will be on probation for five to ten years, although it has not been decided where or for how long he will be in an inpatient facility.
Campus Safety had previously reported on LaDue’s detailed plan, which was uncovered when police found a 180-page journal in his home.
LaDue reportedly told investigators he planned to kill his family and start a fire to distract police and firefighters, then set off bombs in the Waseca Junior/Senior High School during lunch hour. LaDue was also planning to bring guns to the school to target the school resource officer and any students or staff that survived the explosion. LaDue planned to be killed by responding officers.
LaDue initially planned to carry out the attack on April 20 2014, the anniversary of the Columbine shooting, but it was on a Sunday that year.
Police discovered LaDue’s plot after a woman reported seeing a suspicious teen in a storage facility. Police discovered bomb-making materials and searched LaDue’s home, where they found firearms and the journal.
If you appreciated this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our FREE digital newsletters!
Related Content
Leading in Turbulent Times: Effective Campus Public Safety Leadership for the 21st Century
This new webcast will discuss how campus public safety leaders can effectively incorporate Clery Act, Title IX, customer service, “helicopter” parents, emergency notification, town-gown relationships, brand management, Greek Life, student recruitment, faculty, and more into their roles and develop the necessary skills to successfully lead their departments. Register today to attend this free webcast!
