Teen arrested for WA school shooting threat could be released soon

Authorities seize dozens of guns from 13-year-old's Puyallup, WA home

Pierce County authorities seized nearly two dozen guns, including 3D-printed "ghost guns," and explosives from a 13-year-old's home after a group monitoring his social media posts alerted them to threats against a school. The teenager, who investigators say was infatuated with past school shooters, faces charges but will have a detention hearing in September to determine if he remains in custody.

TACOMA, Wash. - The 13-year-old boy, who investigators believe was planning a mass shooting, could be released from juvenile detention before the end of the month.

The backstory:

The Pierce County Sheriff's Office, with the assistance of the Puyallup Police Department, arrested a 13-year-old boy, after reports came in that he was making mass shooting threats online.

"We stopped something very bad from happening," said Deputy Carly Cappetto with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators report they found 23 guns, many of them 3D-printed and untraceable, inside the child’s home. Detectives also report they discovered evidence leading them to believe the suspect was obsessed with previous mass shooters.

"Images of him dressed in clothing imitating the Columbine shooter. He also would post quotes and stuff that he had studied from the Uvalde shooter and other shooters that we’ve had in the past, he had their images around his room almost like he was idolizing them," said Cappetto.

What's next:

The 13-year-old boy is charged with unlawful possession of a gun, unlawful possession of fireworks, and threats toward a school.

While the suspect is currently behind bars, he is scheduled for a hearing on September 22 where a judge will rule on whether to keep him behind bars.

This is a normal procedure in the justice process, but due to the nature of this case, the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office tells FOX 13 Seattle they are keeping a close eye on what happens.

"It’s concerning he would be released back to the community. Especially back into a similar situation where he would potentially have access to his old ways and his old habits — that’s concerning, and I don’t know what the courts are going to decide," said Cappetto.

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