This is so scary!
But at least they got him before he could follow through with his plan!
A 17-year-old was arrested in Waseca, Minnesota after police discovered John David LaDue‘s storage unit of materials used to make explosives, and then searched his room which held an unsettling amount of weapons and at least three ready-to-go bombs. The police were first called in about the 17-year-old after a neighbor spotted him looking “suspicious” at the storage unit.
After he was apprehended, he admitted to police his horrible plan of killing both his parents, his sister, then a school liaison officer, and then as many students until he could before police shot him. He planned to die.
He’s charged with “four counts of attempted first-degree murder, six counts of possessing explosive devices, and and two counts of first-degree criminal damage to property.”
On Thursday, Waseca Police Capt. Kris Markeson held a news conference where he told the media that he absolutely believed John’s plan would’ve succeeded had it not been for the citizen that called him in. He said:
“This case is a classic example of citizens doing the right thing in calling the police when things seem out of place. By doing the right thing, (an) unimaginable tragedy has been prevented.”
The amount of firearms and explosives that a 17-year-old was able to acquire left the police force, and most everyone, deeply disturbed. The police captain said:
“He intended to set off numerous bombs during the lunch hour and kill the school resource officers and set fires and shoot students and staff.”
All of his plans were kept in a personal 180 page notebook which police have used to reveal the extent of this troubled person’s meticulous plans. After police discovered the storage unit which held bomb making materials and apprehended John, he told police he had more “items” in his room.
Here’s what they found when they searched his house:
“Police say LaDue told them the plot was written down in a notebook and kept in a locked guitar case in his room. LaDue also said he had an assault rifle, a number of handguns and 400 rounds of ammunition in a gun safe that was also in his room. Search warrants were issued, and police recovered seven firearms, ammunition, and three functional bombs from LaDue’s home, along with black clothing and a ski mask.
A bomb squad searched the storage unit and found three additional completed explosive devices and materials to make many more. Members of the bomb squad told prosecutors they were shocked by the volume of bomb-making materials and components LaDue had.”
What’s crazy frightening is that police estimate that John planned to execute his plan within the next week or two.
The whole incident has disturbed those who knew the 17-year-old boy. His principal said they weren’t unaware of John LaDue, but never suspected him as to be capable of this. The principal said:
“It’s not like he was unknown to us. He was known. People made lots of contact with him. We tried to do everything we possibly could do to build relationships with him as well. But sometimes even when you’re trying to do everything possible it doesn’t turn out the way you want it to.”
John David LaDue’s parents have not had any contact with the media since news broke of their son’s arrest.
Which isn’t surprising. They are probably the most shocked out of everyone — especially since the son acquired all those weapons right under their noses.
Such an amazing thing that they stopped this troubled teenager before anything happened. We wish that happened every single time.
[Image via Facebook.]