A 13-year-old Tri-North Middle School student is in secure detention after admitting to planning a mass shooting at a the Bloomington middle school.
His initial plan was to arrive at school early Monday with firearms, police said they were told in interviews, but he changed his mind when he thought of the potential victims’ families.
Multiple friends of the boy reported to Bloomington Police Department he told them not to go to school Monday. One 13-year-old girl said the boy told her in the past if he said anything like that he was serious.
The boy reportedly has serious mental health issues, Bloomington Police Department Capt. Steve Kellams said.
The 13-year-old girl told police the boy called her three times Sunday until she answered. She and other friends reported they took the threats seriously and were afraid.
Detectives determined the boy did not have access to firearms or any weapons after searching his home Sunday. When asked where he would have gotten the guns, the boy said he would have bought them on the internet.
School administrators did not respond to request for comment. A spokesperson for Monroe County Community School Corporation confirmed the school was notified of the threats Sunday.
"We've been stressing to the students and staff that if you see something you must say something," MCCSC spokesperson Andrew Clampitt said.
Kellams said the boy was bullied at school and has no criminal history.
He made suicidal comments in the past, both verbally and on various social media accounts, and detectives reported he recently posted a link to an article referencing the Columbine massacre.
The boy was charged Sunday with intimidation for the incident. Police said his mother was cooperative throughout the investigation.
