Charges announced for teen accused of planning mass shooting at Washington mall
The Columbia County teen, whose name remains unreleased to the public, faces four felony charges of second-degree attempted murder, attempted first-degree assault, and two counts of unlawful use of a weapon.
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He also faces misdemeanor charges of tampering with physical evidence, second-degree disorderly conduct, and two counts of unlawful firearm possession.
On Thursday, FBI Portland announced the teen had planned to use a chlorine bomb to cause panic and then shoot patrons at the Three Rivers Mall in Kelso, Wash. before he planned to kill himself.
The FBI received a tip about the plan on May 19 and identified the teen the following day. He was put under surveillance on May 20 and arrested on May 22.
According to authorities, the suspect had been making 'very detailed plans' since early 2025 which included a route to the mall, a map the shooter would follow, a planned wardrobe with weapons, and annotated schematics for the improvised bomb.
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'While the threat was real, coordinated law enforcement efforts ensured that it was addressed quickly and effectively, protecting the public from harm,' said Columbia County Sheriff Brian Pixley.
The suspect had reportedly pledged allegiance to multiple 'online nihilistic extremist groups and ideologies.'
Law enforcement encourages families to monitor their children's online activity and to report any concerning behavior.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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