BrianD
09-15-2006, 11:28 AM
Green Bay police say two East High School students had automatic weapons and homemade bombs for a plot they wanted to end in "suicide by cop."
Police learned about a potential threat to the school involving the two students. A school resource officer in East High School learned two 17-year-old boys had several homemade bombs and weapons at their homes. Those students "were quickly located and detained," the principal said in a letter to parents.
"They did tell their friends that they were depressed, wanted to die by suicide by cop, and may explode the bombs at East High School," Police Chief Craig Van Schyndle said.
Green Bay police say they confiscated from the boys' homes:
* Sawed-off shotguns
* Automatic weapons
* Pistols
* "Lots of" ammunition
* Several bombs
* Bomb-making materials
* Camouflage clothing
* Helmets
* Gas masks
Police went to one student's home in the 300-block of South Van Buren Street. Police say they found automatic weapons, pistols, ammunition, several bombs, and bomb-making material. The county bomb squad was called to Van Buren Street around 11 o'clock. The bomb squad was later called to the other student's home in the 1000-block of Cherry Street.Police say after interviewing the students and witnesses, they believe the 17-year-old boys were likely to take action sometime in the near future, possibly at East High School.
The resource officer "learned these two students were obsessed with pain, death, and had suicidal thoughts," said Van Schyndle.
"We are considering charges of conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit arson at this time," the police chief said.
Police say the boys found instructions for making the bombs on the Internet.
At a news conference late Thursday afternoon, school Superintendent Dan Nerad said, "I want to give great credit to the staff of East High School today. The kind of relationship that they have with students allowed them to become aware of this situation and to immediately get the school resource officer involved."
"I think the important thing is that nothing did happen, and that this was indeed averted today," Mayor Jim Schmitt said.
The superintendent said, "Every family in this community can learn from this situation, and the way we can best learn is to have discussions with our kids on an ongoing basis. But they have a responsibility to ensure that when they go to school that they're safe for other students."
"When we are feeling this way for an extended period of time, the best thing a young person can do is to ask for help and seek out help from adults who can help them with their situation," Nerad added.
Police learned about a potential threat to the school involving the two students. A school resource officer in East High School learned two 17-year-old boys had several homemade bombs and weapons at their homes. Those students "were quickly located and detained," the principal said in a letter to parents.
"They did tell their friends that they were depressed, wanted to die by suicide by cop, and may explode the bombs at East High School," Police Chief Craig Van Schyndle said.
Green Bay police say they confiscated from the boys' homes:
* Sawed-off shotguns
* Automatic weapons
* Pistols
* "Lots of" ammunition
* Several bombs
* Bomb-making materials
* Camouflage clothing
* Helmets
* Gas masks
Police went to one student's home in the 300-block of South Van Buren Street. Police say they found automatic weapons, pistols, ammunition, several bombs, and bomb-making material. The county bomb squad was called to Van Buren Street around 11 o'clock. The bomb squad was later called to the other student's home in the 1000-block of Cherry Street.Police say after interviewing the students and witnesses, they believe the 17-year-old boys were likely to take action sometime in the near future, possibly at East High School.
The resource officer "learned these two students were obsessed with pain, death, and had suicidal thoughts," said Van Schyndle.
"We are considering charges of conspiracy to commit murder and conspiracy to commit arson at this time," the police chief said.
Police say the boys found instructions for making the bombs on the Internet.
At a news conference late Thursday afternoon, school Superintendent Dan Nerad said, "I want to give great credit to the staff of East High School today. The kind of relationship that they have with students allowed them to become aware of this situation and to immediately get the school resource officer involved."
"I think the important thing is that nothing did happen, and that this was indeed averted today," Mayor Jim Schmitt said.
The superintendent said, "Every family in this community can learn from this situation, and the way we can best learn is to have discussions with our kids on an ongoing basis. But they have a responsibility to ensure that when they go to school that they're safe for other students."
"When we are feeling this way for an extended period of time, the best thing a young person can do is to ask for help and seek out help from adults who can help them with their situation," Nerad added.