A 13-year-old boy was arrested in Pierce County, Washington, early Saturday morning after making violent threats against a school and claiming access to firearms. Deputies from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the teen is now in custody and that a significant cache of weapons and disturbing materials consistent with a planned mass shooting were seized from his home.
Deputies began investigating on Friday, September 5, after receiving intelligence that the boy was threatening to kill and referencing access to guns. Authorities acted swiftly, obtaining a seizure warrant and executing it at approximately 1 a.m. on Saturday at a residence in the 13500 block of 20th Avenue Court East in Clover Creek, just south of Tacoma. The arrest was made without incident, and the boy was booked into Remann Hall Juvenile Detention Center.
According to law enforcement officials, the evidence recovered during the search was deeply troubling. Investigators found a “significant number” of firearms, both secured and unsecured, as well as loaded magazines with phrases such as “school shooter” written on them. Deputies also discovered clothing and written materials that they say closely matched known indicators of a mass shooting plot.
Deputy Carly Cappetto, spokesperson for the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office, said, “There is enough evidence to show that we have stopped something very serious from happening.” The department credited the quick and coordinated efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies with averting a potentially catastrophic event. “Thanks to their quick actions, we are safe today,” the office added.
The boy had previously been enrolled in the Franklin Pierce School District in 2021 but is not currently attending school. The investigation remains active as authorities continue to review the seized materials and determine whether others were involved.
The arrest follows a disturbing trend of school violence incidents nationwide. Just last week, a deadly shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis was carried out by a biological male identifying as a woman. In a separate 2024 incident, a transgender 13-year-old in Wisconsin was arrested and expelled after planning a Columbine-style attack on Les Paul Middle School in Waukesha.
Law enforcement agencies across the country are on heightened alert as school threats increase in both frequency and severity. The Pierce County case highlights the importance of rapid response and intelligence-sharing to prevent further tragedies.
