US Teen Arrested After Stockpiling 23 Guns and Threatening Mass Shooting
A 13-year-old boy in Washington state, United States, has been arrested after authorities uncovered a disturbing arsenal of 23 firearms, ammunition, and explosive materials inside his home. The case has sparked alarm across the community after it was revealed he had posted content online suggesting an obsession with past school shootings.
Police carried out the arrest on 6 September following online threats he allegedly made about staging a mass shooting. According to investigators, several of the firearms were homemade, assembled using 3D-printed components, while others were mounted on walls or left unsecured in his bedroom. Explosive devices and writings that glorified infamous school shootings, such as the Columbine tragedy in 1999, were also seized.
Disturbing signs of fascination with mass violence
Officers said the boy, who is currently not enrolled in any school, had been sharing worrying social media posts since June. These included photographs of him posing with guns and messages referencing Columbine and the 2022 Uvalde school shooting. Court documents described him as “fascinated” by school shooters, with his room displaying writings and imagery reinforcing mass shooting scenarios.
Deputy Carly Cappetto of the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office remarked that the teenager appeared to have “everything ready to go” for an attack, although no specific target had been identified. She noted that several loaded magazines bore inscriptions referencing school shooters, adding that the evidence suggested it was only a matter of time before a tragedy occurred if authorities had not intervened.
Facing multiple charges despite parental defence
The boy has since been charged with five offences, including unlawful possession of firearms, possession of fireworks, and attempted threat to bomb or injure a school. He pleaded not guilty during a juvenile court hearing earlier this week.
His parents, however, defended him, insisting he never intended to harm anyone. His mother claimed the social media posts were an immature attempt to “look cool” among peers. Despite this, the Franklin Pierce School District has pledged to work closely with law enforcement to ensure safety in the community.
The teenager’s next court appearance is scheduled for December. The case has reignited debate in the US about gun accessibility, social media’s influence on youth, and the risks of 3D-printed firearms.