Mass. police say they foiled Columbine-like plot

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http://www.boston.com/news/daily/24/new_bedford.htm

New Bedford police say they foiled Columbine-like plot
By Greg Sukiennik, Associated Press, 11/24/01

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. -- Three New Bedford High School students were arrested Saturday for allegedly plotting what police said was a Columbine-like murder spree at the school.

The students were arrested at their homes after a janitor found a letter Tuesday outlining their plans to detonate explosives, shoot students as they fled the school, then kill themselves when police arrived, police said.

Police seized bomb-making instructions, knives, shotgun shells and pictures of the suspects holding what appeared to be handguns from the suspects' homes in this coastal city of 100,000 residents about 50 miles south of Boston.

The suspects referred to themselves as the "Trenchcoat Mafia" -- the same as a group Columbine killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were said to be associated with -- and wanted to model their attack after that massacre, police said.

"They said specifically it would be bigger than Columbine," New Bedford Police Chief Arthur Kelly said.

Harris and Klebold killed 12 students and a teacher and wounded 26 people before killing themselves in April 1999 at Columbine High School in suburban Denver.

Eric McKeehan, 17, and two juveniles whom police did not identify, face charges including conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and possession of ammunition.

McKeehan is being held on $10,000 cash bail. The two juvenile suspects are being held on $5,000 cash bail. Their arraignments are scheduled for Monday.

Attempts to reach McKeehan's family were unsuccessful.

Police said they plan to arrest at least two other students in connection with the plot. Those students are cooperating, New Bedford Police Lt. Richard Spirlet said.

Jenna Reed, 15, a Dartmouth resident who used to hang out with McKeehan and his younger brother, recalled when McKeehan joked about "how cool it would be to pretend to blow up the school."

Reed, interviewed at the Dartmouth Mall on Saturday evening, said none of McKeehan's friends felt threatened.

"He talked about it but he was joking around," Reed said. "I'd never expect him to do anything like that."

Saturday's arrests came after an investigation that started Oct. 17 when a student told police about the alleged plot. The following week, police questioned one of the suspects after they found bomb-making materials at property off of school grounds.

But the bomb lacked key elements that would arm it, so police could not make an arrest, Kelly said.

They decided to move after the janitor found the letter on a floor at the high school, which has about 3,300 students. The letter didn't say when the killings would happen, except that it would happen on a Monday.

"We decided not to let another Monday go by," Kelly said.

Police plan to search the school Sunday with bomb-sniffing dogs, and open as usual on Monday.

"Everything is in place to assure the students, staff, parents and community that the school will be safe for occupany," Kelly said.

McKeehan lives with a friend in a three-story house on Cottage Street in New Bedford, according to neighbors. He moved in this summer, they said.

"Eric seemed very quiet," downstairs neighbor Lilian Ramos said. "It's shocking. I have children who live here."

There was no answer Saturday when a reporter knocked at the second and third floor apartments.

School committee member Kevin Finnerty said McKeehan is a junior and the other two are freshmen, but he did not know them personally.

"It's always been a very safe school," he said. "We've never had any really serious incidents there."

After the Columbine killings, Finnerty said school administrators participated in crisis management training and a closed circuit video system that "covers the whole building" was installed. There are no metal detectors.

"If it could happen here, it could happen anywhere," Finnerty said.

Of course, will the strict weapons laws in MA, such an incident would never actually take place. The under age kids would never be able to get the weapons. Right?

[Justin]

The students were arrested at their homes after a janitor found a letter Tuesday outlining their plans to detonate explosives, shoot students as they fled the school, then kill themselves when police arrived...

Huh. So you mean to say that they planned to give up once superior firepower showed up?
That, in essence, once there was any hint of armed opposition, these brainiacs were going to simply off themselves?
*yawn*
I think this goes to show two things:

1)Guns in the right hands are a deterrent to criminals. If not before the commision of a crime, then most certainly during. In other words, guns in the hands of teachers would at least present some form of defensive measure against twerps like these. But then, I'm preaching to the choir.

2)These kids need to seriously use their imagination. I mean, aping Columbine? Running around in trenchcoats and offing yourself in a nihilistic blaze of stupidity at the first sign of resistance?
BOOOO-OOOORRRING...
I mean, seriously, why go to all the preparation just to prove what a freakin' pansy you are.
I'll bet they think a TEC-9 is cool, too.
Well, on them and their stupid little plan.

[LASur5r+P]

You mean if you have possession of ammo in Mass.? that that's illegal?
Wow!
I thought PRK was bad. Of course, we're getting there.

[Fred Hansen]

LASur5r+P,

If it makes you feel any better, I think that the PRK is that bad already.

[stevetuna]

Lord help me, I'm actually going to say something good about this idiot liberal Commonwealth I live in... The in-school police officer program works. The two cops who are posted in the school full-time had the trust of most of the kids and were sharp enough to pick up on the story. Also, they are armed - something I can't be if I need to go into the school... An armed cop in the school is going to be able to do a lot to stop the trenchcoat wearing idiots when the SHTF. I'm sure that the moment the local pols realize that the cops were actually ARMED they will move to eliminate this program...

[Guyon]

Yeah, but I'll bet that little comes of this other than a slap on the wrist once the lawyers are done. IMHO, the parent/guardian of these "kids" ought to do some serious jail time for producing such monsters.

[faraway]

Good thing, they got these sociopaths before they actually executed their copycat massacre. Cops in the schools,ok, but, how things have changed. As for arming schoolteachers, until the way the teachers are trained is changed, waste of time. Essentially, the political agenda in many teachers colleges, is vehementally anti-firearm. And to get through many of these programs can be a literal political litmus test. So the issue of weapons to that crowd,probably would mean nothing but a political boon to NCBH. Thugs are thugs, but another concern is the effects of the 'self esteem' theories and the applications. For at least 10 years now, we've ladled out the perception in the schools that nothing is more important than a student feeling good about themselves. To some degree valid, but it opens the doors to narcissism(sp).In other terms, the thugs who used to be conceptually held back by social idealogical constraints-use the 'it's all about you'-in their twisted logic, to rationalize violence.

[Apple a Day]

Hey, Faraway, hang on a second!
There are plenty of teachers in my area [including me] who are gun owners. Last year I, the biology teacher in the next room, and the security officer had a debate over calibers and handgun versus shotgun for home defense. At the school I used to work the guy down the hall let me shoot his AR-15. I have a concealed weapon permit and have talked to one of the ROTC guys - a senior chief- about getting his. One of the government teachers told me about picking pears off a tree with a .22 when she was a girl and another who likes to shoot her husband's .357 magnum.
Yeah, there are still the leftover hippies and political hacks but all of us aren't that way.

[flinch_of_gt]

There was a sheriff's deputy at Columbine High School who responded quickly, but had to engage both shooters at 75 yards with a handgun. If the wannabees had any sense, they would've studied the patterns of the school officers and been able to neutralize them.

[faraway]

Ok, Apple a Day, point partially conceded. Probably should have phrased it all to indicate that there are teachers who are pro-2nd, but otftimes the culture within the schools and the agenda in teachers colleges can put them on the defensive. Can't say about VA, but many of the teachers cert. programs in Colo are no more than the residuals of the happy hippy time. With all the attendant unreality about violence/social problems/and education included as a package deal. Despite stalwarts like yourself and associates, any attempt to arm teachers would be used by the NEA etc as a political boogie monster. Hence, any P.S. teacher who openly advocates being armed might be set up as a political scapegoat. And I do recall, just after Columbine, articles in the edu-journals, stating that part of the problem was a result of low self esteem and marginalization. By that standard, anyone from F. Douglas to W.B Yeats would need counseling. Another concern is the informant culture that's being advocated as a solution-do need the information-but where will that lead when urchins who've been in that situation grow up?

[Benjamin]

I, too, take umbrage at your remarks. And I believe that I can offer a bit of a insight, having graduated from a Mass public high school approximately 18 months ago.

The whole party line NEA spouting, two dimensional hoplophobe? Never saw one. Closest that I came across was in the English department, where a teacher threw a hissy fit about the image of a pistol on a band T-shirt (I believe that the band was 'Tree,' not that it matters). While a few would interject their own personal prejudices against guns and violence (which these few considered linked) someone was usually able to either politely dispute their view, or suggest that the class time wasn't the proper forum for their views (i.e. get on with the lessons).

On the other hand, the most respected teacher in the school was in the history department. He'd been in the US Army between Korea and Vietnam.....he brought up the M1 Garand and the AKM on two different occasions. On both occasions he and I ended up basically monopolizing the class time with a discussion of the finer points of either firearm. (Someone asked what a Garand was. I told him it was a gun made to enforce right-handedness, by breaking the left thumb. ) We discussed the merits of black tip .30-06 and stamped receivers with regard to war production, in class.

As for kids who grew up in an environment encouraging snitching....I think I turned out ok so far. At least, no ill effects from that policy. Most people that I associated with, or had much contact with, could critically analyze a given situation and figure otu whether or not it would be a good idea to tell anyone else..... few people were ever turned in for anything that they actually did.

Now - one time a kid (a freshman) tried to purchase guns from me for the express purpose of killing other students. He made it quite clear, over the course of 10 minutes, that he was chiefly concerned with killing others, to the point of naming two in a conversation with a complete stranger. I got his name and address, and told the administration. In about three days he was expelled. . . . . . but was allowed to return to school in the next school year. No charges ensued. No nothing. Just 'ok, you're out'.

FWIW

-Ben

[paratrooper]

I must be missing something . Did they really find any guns ? If not all you have is some BS ammo and a lot of brave talk . If this is against the law there's a lot of groups that should go to jail . I'm not saying that they did nothing but to compare it to Columbine is just big talk on the PD's part . As far as punishing the people that raised them first you must allow them to discipline them . In most states you get "too strict or physical" with the kids and you go to jail . I'm not in favor of abuse but sometimes a butt whoopin' works .

[Benjamin]

Paratroop - in Ma, posession of ammo without a FID or LTC really IS an offense. Worth up to a year, IIRC.

[Thairlar]

Don't forget that spent brass is considered ammunition here.

[Hoppy]

I believe it is a fine of up to $1,000.

Somewhere (safety course?) I think I remember hearing each ROUND could be up to $1,000. Holy Shnikes...

I haven't heard anything about finding guns in this story either, has there been any additional news?

[faraway]

Ben and Co. Never quite said that there aren't 2nd A teachers. And note the second post on the theme, clarifies that although there may be pro-2nd A instructors, on the whole the system is not sympathetic to that belief. And yes,in many states teachers cert. is intensively anti-firearm. The Vietnam- Korea vet you spoke of likely didn't have to put up with the nonsense, as he probably was licensed when teachers colleges simply taught how to teach. The other issue indirectly implied by paratrooper is also important. Because of Columbine/Zero tolarence there have been many instances where school officials have seized some kids nailfile/pocket knife etc and used the seizure as a symbolic triumph. And we are developing a informant culture in many schools. For example, I recall one kid who showed me his swiss army knife. He was very proud of it and the resp. it implied. His classmates were virtually demanding he be sent up the river-by policy I would have been required to do that-and the kid sent into required compulsary counseling. Didn't happen, kept it till end of day 'so it wouldn't get lost' and told him not to bring it to school for the same reason. Really, how long do you think firearms rights will last under these types of very overt agendas, lose the kids we've lost.