Four teens in Pennsylvania are facing criminal charges after police discovered they planned on carrying out an attack on the 25th anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado.

The teens planned a school shooting on April 20, 2024. A boy and a girl, both 15, have been charged as adults, while the other two teens have been charged as juveniles.

The teens reportedly planned to attack Dunmore High School by using guns and bombs. The four referred to the alleged plot as “Natural Born Killers” and discussed plans to “shoot up the school” in a group chat.

Amid their plot, the teens also call “dibs” on certain victims. Among them was Principal Timothy Hopkin, who was unsure why they would want to hurt him. “It’s a little bit disturbing to find out something like that was being plotted,” he said.

The two teens charged as adults were arraigned Sept. 16 on aggravated assault, possession of explosive material charges, weapons of mass destruction, criminal conspiracy, and terroristic threat.

The female also faces charges of risking catastrophe due to the threat of the explosive devices potentially harming neighbors and family members.

According to court documents, the 15-year-old girl’s mother said her daughter was obsessed with the Columbine High School massacre

District Attorney Mark Powell released a statement following the news to update the community.

“While the investigation is ongoing, I want to assure the parents, students, and staff at Dunmore High School that we do not believe there is any active threat at this time,” he said in a statement.

“We are relieved that this plot was uncovered before anyone was hurt and urge anyone who has information about potential threats of school violence to contact police immediately.”

Preliminary hearings for the teens are expected to take place on Oct. 4.

Students sit in class at Sidney High School
Students sit in class at Sidney High School AFP / Megan JELINGER
RELATED STORIES