Deputies arrest 13-year-old in Pierce County, WA over school shooting threats

Teen arrested for making school shooting threats

A 13-year-old boy, who police say was infatuated with mass shootings, was arrested in Pierce County after investigators found dozens of guns and disturbing writings in his home.

PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. - Police arrested a 13-year-old boy in Pierce County over the weekend after he allegedly made threats to carry out a school shooting and claimed to have access to firearms. Once there, SWAT found 23 firearms, including tactical-style rifles.

Timeline:

According to the Pierce County Sheriff's Office (PCSO), deputies received a tip about the juvenile's threats to kill on Friday evening. On Saturday at around 1 a.m., deputies and a SWAT team served a warrant at the suspect's home near the corner of Chesney Road East and 20th Avenue Court East. He was taken into custody and booked into Remann Hall without incident.

Authorities say the investigation remains active. Since the suspect is a minor, authorities are not releasing his identity at this time. 

What they're saying:

Additionally, the Associated Press confirms an investigation into his parents continues, with sheriff’s Deputy Carly Cappetto saying the following in an email Tuesday. "We are still conducting interviews, and it will ultimately be up to the prosecutor to decide if they will charge parents for improper storage and safekeeping of firearms or other crimes they feel is fitting," she said.

During the search, deputies found numerous firearms, both secured and unsecured, as well as loaded AR-style magazines with school shooter writings on them, such as references to the 1999 Columbine shooting in Colorado. Law enforcement also recovered clothing and writings that appeared to support a typical mass shooting scenario. All of these items were confiscated. 

This image provided by Pierce County Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025 shows weapons seized from the home of a 13-year-old boy in Pierce County, Wa., who authorities said had appeared to idolize school shooters. (Pierce County Sheriff’s Offi

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Investigators said they also found "what appeared to be the face of a known mass shooter placed in a crude drawing," and that in social media posts dating back to June he had displayed weapons and dressed in the attire of past school shooters, reports the AP. According to the probable cause statement obtained by the outlet, one post said, "when i turn 21 iam going to kill people," and another said, "its over! my time is almost hear!"

The 13-year-old was last enrolled in the Franklin Pierce School District in 2021, but has not been enrolled since. He is not currently an active student in any school district, authorities said.

What they're saying:

"We want to thank all involved agencies and the Pierce County Sheriff personnel who have spent the last 24 hours tirelessly working this case and bringing closure to something that could have harmed our community," the PCSO wrote in a press release. "Thanks to their quick actions, we are safe today."

Pierce County Sheriff's Office releases firearms seized from Pierce County 13-year-old amid ongoing investigation into shooting threats.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

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