Teen arrested for allegedly threatening mass shooting at his school

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- A 14-year-old Tumwater boy who had done Internet research on school shootings and expressed a "fascination with Columbine" was arrested after a friend reported the teen had threatened to carry out a mass shooting at his school, a prosecutor told CBS Seattle affiliate KIRO-TV Tuesday. 

Police found three guns and ammunition in the boy's home and arrested him Monday, KIRO reports. 

Thurston County Deputy Prosecutor Wayne Graham said Tuesday in court that the boy had expressed a fascination with the 1999 Colorado school shooting in which two student gunmen killed 12 students and a teacher before killing themselves. 

Police went to the student's home Monday after hearing of the threats to shoot students at Black Hills High School, Tumwater police Detective Jen Kolb said. Two of the guns and the ammunition were found in the boy's bedroom, Kolb said, adding those guns were unloaded.

Graham said he had gunpowder, modified shotgun shells and fireworks that could be used to construct explosives, according to KIRO.

He also told the station the teen had a hand-drawn map of the school. 

A juvenile court commissioner ordered the boy held pending a mental evaluation. Graham said the teen was arrested for investigation of harassment and unlawful possession of a firearm. 

The guns included a 9 mm pistol, a shotgun and an "assault-style weapon," Graham said. 

The boy's mother told the court her son "had some depression issues." 

The boy's grandmother told a reporter for The Olympian newspaper that the teen has been depressed lately, and sees a counselor. She said he would never hurt anyone. 

The Tumwater School District took precautions at the school on Monday, Kolb said. The boy didn't take the guns to school and no students were in direct danger, she added.

Alexis Meadows, a classmate of the suspect, told KIRO he never seemed threatening. "I thought he was really nice and he didn't seem crazy at all."

Theresa Leupold, who works in the school cafeteria and admits the situation is disturbing, remarked to KIRO that the teen "seems like a nice quiet kid. They say you never suspect that, one, person."

Other students at Black Hills say the allegations are downright frightening. Drake Chisholm said, "It makes me remember the past shootings and schools and it makes me wonder if Black Hills is safe anymore."

Kolb said the boy told police Monday he was not serious about the threat. 

The district put the boy on emergency expulsion.