APRIL 20, 1999 - LITTLETON, COLO.
Michigan teenagers charged in plot Associated Press
PORT HURON — Four boys have been charged with plotting a shooting at their middle school similar to the April rampage at Colorado's Columbine High School.
Justin Schnepp and Jedaiah Zinzo, both 14, were charged as adults Thursday with conspiracy to commit murder for allegedly planning to kill classmates at their 560-student Holland Woods Middle School. The two remained in custody Saturday on $100,000 bail each.
The two others, ages 12 and 13, have been charged as juveniles with the same crime. They also remained in custody on Saturday.
"They planned to commit ... a slaughter and massacre of Holland Woods students," said Mary Kelly, a St. Clair County assistant prosecutor. She said the plot "had been in the planning and in the making for over a week."
The four were arrested on Wednesday and Thursday at their homes.
Prosecutors allege the teens planned to top the death toll of the April 20 massacre at Columbine, where Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 12 students and a teacher before committing suicide.
The district's 12,000 students were told to stay home from its 21 campuses after a bomb was discovered near the Holland Woods campus on Thursday night. A janitor found the device shortly after parents and school officials met there to discuss the boys' alleged plot.
The bomb, which police say is not connected to the alleged plan, was disarmed by state police before being shipped to a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms lab for analysis, said Vera Fedorak, an agency spokeswoman.
The boys' alleged plans were discovered after a 14-year-old girl told police she overheard them talking about an elaborate killing spree. She told police she overheard some of the boys saying they wanted to kill all the school's "preps," the popular clique of students.
The girl told police the Michigan boys said their plan was to go on a shooting spree in a gym assembly and detonate a bomb afterward. Authorities have declined to specify other evidence that led to the charges.
School officials canceled weekend sports events and were conducting school-by-school inspections before planning to announce Sunday whether classes will be held this week.
May 16, 1999 | Print this page
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BACKGROUND
Full index of the shooting Reconstruction of the shooting TimelineLocation the schoolFloorplanWeapons used
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AUDIO
'Friend of Mine' Listen to the Columbine Memorial song sung by Columbine students Jonathan and Stephen Cohen.
911 tapes
Interview with Arun Ghandi |
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PHOTOS
A Daily Camera photo essay detailed the tragedy of April 20 and the recovery and remembrance in the following weeks: photo essay
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INTERACT
With the recent rise in school violence, do you feel schools are still safe? vote here
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THE INVESTIGATION
Man pleads innocent to helping Columbine killers get weapons Relatives angry about handling of case Parents of Columbine killer seek to limit evidence access Investigators meet with Harris' parents CHS investigators focus on computers FBI investigator's son linked to case Killer reportedly took Luvox antidepressant Detectives question shooter's girlfriend Bombs found in cafeteria Portraits of the killers Killer's diary describes plot of hate |
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SCHOOL VIOLENCE
Teenager threatens classmates Students accused of plotting shooting Violence in Georgia School violence stuns nation Teen wounds six fellow students Teens charged in alleged school attack plot Michigan teenagers charged in plot Other school shootings 1927 school bombing killed nearly 40 children Suspensions, arrests across country La. school site of another shooting Facts: Death in schools 'Blood in the School Yard', from the Cincinnati Post full series |
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REACTION
Time: Duo sought immortality Aftershocks continue to hit Columbine Columbine lawsuits multiply High schools' 'cult of the athlete' under scrutiny
Parents of Columbine shooters sued Columbine spurs interest in home schools Columbine healing fund raises $2.3 million CU frat shows support for Columbine 'Healing bear' arrives to help in Littleton Doctors: Guilt a normal reaction for survivors Media the message? Broomfield couple campaigns to 'Erase the Hate' What now? |
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GUNS AND LAW
Inaction on gun control could prompt ballot issues Democrats say they'll carry gun laws favored by Owens Owens says tougher laws wouldn't have prevented tragedy State senator plans to revive bill on concealed-handguns Despite pressure, more gun control measures unlikely Columbine dad lobbies Washington Senate passes more gun controls Columbine killers also wounded the NRA Senate rejects any new restrictions on gun-show sales
Gun control strife Leaders scrap gun bills Guns and legislatures |
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HOW TO HELP
A drive has been established to raise money for a memorial for the victims of the Columbine High School tragedy. Contributions may be mailed to the Columbine Memorial Fund, c/o The Jefferson Foundation, 809 Quail St., Building 1, Lakewood, CO 80215.
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