WASECA, Minn. (WCCO) – A Waseca, Minn. teenager has been charged with attempted murder, possessing explosives, and attempting to damage property after allegedly planting a number of devices at a school playground.
According to investigators, the 17-year-old boy had also obtained weapons and intended to kill his father, mother, sister and a school liaison officer. He allegedly intended to plant devices at Waseca Junior and Senior High School.
According to the juvenile petition, the teenager admitted to having set off explosive devices previously near Hartley Elementary School.
The boy was arrested on Tuesday after Waseca Police and the Bloomington Bomb Squad executed search warrants at a home and a storage facility in Waseca.
Investigators say that the boy admitted to idolizing Eric Harris, who along with Dylan Klebold orchestrated the 1999 massacre at Columbine High School in Colorado. Police said the teenager originally wanted to carry out his plan on April 20 to commemorate the anniversary of that event, but didn’t because it was Easter Sunday and school was not in session.
Police said they believe the boy intended to carry out his attack within the ensuing weeks. He kept a 180-page notebook with detailed plans for how he intended to use the explosives, firearms and ammunition he had accrued. Some of the items found in the teen’s bedroom and storage locker had been stolen from relatives.
He told police he expected for SWAT teams to kill him. He said he would have shot at the arresting officers on Tuesday if he’d had a gun on him, but didn’t because all he had was a knife.
The juvenile petition lists 12 separate criminal counts against the teenager.
