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View Full Version : Teen Planned to Bomb School/Parents Turned Him In


Roamer
04-21-2008, 08:24 AM
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=4692527

Teen Caught With Material to Bomb HS
Cops Say Bomb Plot by Angry S.C. Teen Could Have Killed Dozens
BY JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press Writer
COLUMBIA, S.C. Apr 21, 2008 (AP) The Associated Press

The alleged plotter, Ryan Schallenberger, 18, was arrested Saturday. His parents called police after 10 pounds of ammonium nitrate were delivered to their home in Chesterfield and they discovered a disturbing journal.

(ABC)Students arriving Monday at a small South Carolina high school face newly installed metal detectors and extra police after a student was arrested in what authorities said was a plan to carry out a Columbine-inspired attack.

Bomb-sniffing dogs have already checked the hallways and classrooms at Chesterfield High School, authorities said. Metal detectors were borrowed from a courthouse.


"He seemed to hate the world. He hated people different from him — the rich boys with good-looking girlfriends," said the town's police chief, Randall Lear.

Schallenberger was one of the top students at the high school of about 580 students and had not caused any serious problems before his arrest, principal Scott Radkin said.

school's Web site lists Schallenberger as a member of the 2007 academic bowl squad. He won an academic award from Newberry College in the last school year.

The teen was in the Chesterfield County jail Sunday night, charged with possessing materials to make bombs, the police chief said. A bond hearing was scheduled for Monday. Other than the bomb-making material, no other weapons were found at his home, Lear said.


Schallenberger kept a journal for more than a year that detailed his plans for a suicide attack and included maps of the school, police said. The writings did not include a specific time for the attack or the intended targets.

The teen planned to make several bombs and had all the supplies needed to kill dozens, depending on where the devices were placed and whether they included shrapnel, Lear said. Ammonium nitrate was used in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 that killed 168 people.

Schallenberger also left an audio tape that was to be played after he died explaining why he wanted to bomb his school, authorities said. Lear wouldn't detail what was on the tape except to say Schallenberger was an angry young man.

TigressPen
04-21-2008, 08:52 AM
I read this article earlier and was so thrilled his parents were home when that pkg arrived!! Otherwise, this kid could have carried out his plans without them ever having a clue of it before it was too late.

Mysticalmom
04-21-2008, 09:31 AM
Geez thank goodness the parents were home and stopped what could have been a terrible tragedy.

LiveLaughLuv
04-21-2008, 09:40 AM
Geez thank goodness the parents were home and stopped what could have been a terrible tragedy.


To turn there own sons in to the authories was even harder to do. Kudos to those parents who did not stand by and do nothing....glad it was stopped.

Texas53
04-21-2008, 10:38 AM
I praise the parents for doing what they did. Many parents take the stance "my kid wouldn't do anything like that".

What bothers me is that there are too many kids today who seem not to have a soul and are just downright evil. It has nothing to do with their parents, per se. Its just how many kids are in their attitude and actions!

KittyMom
04-21-2008, 10:39 AM
Kudos to the parents. What a hard decision they had to make. Maybe now, this kid can get some help.