A 13-year-old boy in Tacoma, Washington, was arrested after deputies said they found a stockpile of 23 firearms, boxes of ammunition and writings suggesting he was planning a mass school attack.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Office said officers executed a search warrant at the home at about 1 a.m. after receiving tips that the juvenile had expressed “school shooter ideations,” made lethal threats and bragged about access to firearms. Authorities said most of the weapons were mounted on walls and some handguns were unsecured.
Deputy Carly Cappetto, in a video posted by the sheriff’s office, said investigators found “everything ready to go to commit a mass shooting type of incident.” Cappetto told reporters it was unknown who the suspect’s intended target might have been, but that it was “only a matter of time before a tragic incident occurred.”
Court documents reviewed by news organizations and sheriff’s office statements describe a cache that included AR-style rifles, long guns, about eight handguns, and six large tan boxes of ammunition. Authorities said some weapons appeared to be homemade using a 3D printer and that several loaded magazines were scrawled with references to past school shootings, including the Columbine massacre.
Investigators said they also found a “go bag” in the suspect’s bedroom packed with ammunition and AR-style magazines, and seized clothing tied to a past mass shooting incident. Social media posts dating back to June showed the boy holding firearms and made explicit reference to Columbine and the 2022 Uvalde, Texas, elementary school attack, according to court filings.
The juvenile, who has not been publicly identified because of his age, was charged with attempted threat to bomb or injure a school, second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of fireworks. Pierce County prosecutors have filed the counts in juvenile court. Authorities said the suspect had not been enrolled in school since 2021. His parents have not been charged.
The sheriff’s office released video and photos of the seized weapons and evidence. In the footage, rifles and black AR-style weapons are laid out on tables, handguns are scattered on the floor and ammunition boxes are stacked nearby. Authorities said the magazines and other items bore inscriptions and imagery that appeared to mimic behaviors and iconography associated with past school shooters.
The arrest follows a recent high-profile attack at a Catholic school in Minneapolis in which the gunman killed two children and wounded others, an incident that renewed national attention on school safety and gun access. Local and federal officials said the Tacoma case may draw scrutiny from policymakers and advocates focused on juvenile access to firearms and the prevention of mass shootings.
Pierce County officials said tips from the community were central to locating and removing the weapons. The sheriff’s office urged anyone with concerns about threats or ideation to report them to law enforcement, noting that early reporting can prevent attacks. Investigators said the probe remains active and additional information may be released as the juvenile prosecution proceeds.
The case illustrates ongoing challenges for law enforcement and educators in identifying and intervening with youths who exhibit violent ideation. Officials did not immediately provide details on how the suspect obtained the weapons or who else, if anyone, might be under investigation for providing access to the firearms.
The juvenile is in custody as the Pierce County juvenile court processes the charges. A court hearing schedule has not been disclosed. Prosecutors and the sheriff’s office said they will continue to work with partners to assess threats to schools and to ensure public safety.