Manifesto, Ammo Found at Home of Suspect in Deadly School Shooting

A yearbook with some students’ faces marked with X’s was also found in Caleb Sharpe’s home along with a ‘practice Molotov cocktail’.

Manifesto, Ammo Found at Home of Suspect in Deadly School Shooting

Police found 34 boxes of .223-caliber ammunition in the 15-year-old suspected killer's home.

Several items including a manifesto and ammunition were found in the home of a student who is accused of killing a classmate at his Washington state high school.

Police say Caleb Sharpe, 15, opened fire at Freeman High School on September 13 with his father’s handgun and rifle, killing 15-year-old Sam Strahan and injuring three other students.

In an interview with police, Sharpe alleged Strahan approached him, stating, “I always knew you were going to shoot up the school.” He says he was bullied by Strahan but that he wasn’t initially a target. Strahan was shot in the face and chest.

Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich says Sharpe was driven by bullying and was “enamored of the school shooting culture”.

Sharpe was placed at the Spokane Juvenile Detention Center. He was scheduled to make his first appearance in juvenile court last Thursday but the hearing was canceled. He is currently facing charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder.

Knezovich says Sharpe should be charged as an adult. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody pending a September 26 court appearance.

In court documents released this week, police who searched Sharpe’s home found a ‘manifesto’ but have not provided details about what was written in it, according to the Daily News.

Police also discovered 34 boxes of .223-caliber ammunition on top of a safe where the weapons used in the shooting were kept. A notebook with a list of chemicals and a ‘practice Molotov cocktail’, as described by police, was found in the suspect’s closet.

A yearbook in which some students’ faces had been marked with X’s was also found. Police have not publicized whether any of the students who were hurt or killed had their faces marked, reports the Daily Mail.

Suspect Had Been Suspended, Seeing Counselor for Suicidal Thoughts

According to Superintendent Randy Russell, Sharpe had been suspended after a student brought a threatening note written by Sharpe to a school counselor. Russell says the school followed protocol and Sharpe passed a required mental evaluation. Wednesday, the day of the shooting, was his first day back at school, according to the Spokesman.

Sharpe had also been meeting with a school counselor regarding suicidal thoughts. He left a suicide note at home for his parents prior to the shooting, says an affidavit from the Spokane County Sheriff’s office.

Sharpe’s parents released a statement, saying they are ‘devastated’ and asking for privacy.

Students returned to school on Monday, many accompanied by parents at the request of Russell.

A counselor was present in each classroom and some retired teachers returned to the school to offer support to students and staff.

 

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Amy is Campus Safety’s Executive Editor. Prior to joining the editorial team in 2017, she worked in both events and digital marketing.

Amy has many close relatives and friends who are teachers, motivating her to learn and share as much as she can about campus security. She has a minor in education and has worked with children in several capacities, further deepening her passion for keeping students safe.

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One response to “Manifesto, Ammo Found at Home of Suspect in Deadly School Shooting”

  1. Stephen Cerro says:

    Looks like there were missed opportunities here and the mental evaluation is not adequate or is flawed. When you jump to suspension and turn the student loose out of the school environment without proper monitoring/guiding and contact, that student will feel even more upset and depressed and with a willingness to take “action”. There are much better steps to take to help prevent these tragedies instead of the archaic ways of the past.

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