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Boys Plotted to Attack East High with Guns, Bombs and Napalm, Say Police
Sep 15, 2006 12:50 PM CDT
Schools and "A Hero" Did Things Right, Officials Say
BREAKING NEWS COVERAGE: Police Reveal Details of Plot, Weapons
Check All | Clear All
By Jason Allen
Green Bay police say two 17-year-old boys, Shawn Sturtz and William Cornell, were planning to use bombs and other weapons on East High School.
A press conference Friday morning with police, the district attorney, mayor, school superintendent and others revealed more details about the thwarted attack and the investigation.
Police say this was a very real threat, and that the attack was planned for the near future. They say the boys wanted an assault like the Columbine High School massacre in 1999.
Captain Lisa Sterr said investigators found 20 unsophisticated homemade bombs in one boy's house on Van Buren Street, along with jars of gelled gasoline -- a generic napalm. The bombs were made with toilet paper tubes, buckshot, and fireworks. The boys told police they learned how to make bombs from Web sites.
Police confiscated one semi-automatic weapon, nine long guns such as shotguns, more than 100 rounds of ammunition, bomb-making materials, camouflage clothes, walkie-talkies, and mannequins that may have been used for target practice, "numerous publications" about weapons and combat tactics, and a computer.
Police are recommending charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree intentional homicide and conspiracy to commit arson.
District Attorney John Zakowski said the teens will be in court Friday afternoon for a bond hearing. Because police are still investigating, he's not sure exactly what charges he'll file against the boys -- and possibly even their parents.
"It isn't a question of what you want to do, it's a question of what you should do based on the evidence. The primary focus is on the two kids. We're going to be aggressive but fair; we'll charge appropriately. As to the parents, there has to be a crime committed. You can't charge a parent for simply being ignorant -- if that was true, we'd be in court a lot more often -- and so we'll see what evidence there is and if there are any charges that are appropriate."
Police say the boys had felt depressed for years, feeling like outsiders who never really fit in at school. One of the boys had been "dating" a girl on the Internet, who recently broke up with him, which police suggested was the trigger for wanting to carry out the attack soon.
The plot was thwarted by one student who came forward after talking with their parents about the right thing to do.
School superintendent Dan Nerad said, "This young person felt that what he knew was important to communicate to adults, and obviously with some judgment that this was wrong. And I don't know to what extent this person knew all the details, but knew enough to be concerned about it. And also, we're of the understanding that he had careful communication with the parents in getting advice. This young person followed very good advice and came forward to a school staff member early yesterday morning."
"What you have there, and I think this is very real, if someone hadn't come forward, we'd probably be talking about funerals today instead of charges. We're talking about setting off bombs in school. We're talking about explosive charges. Potential homicide charges, arson charges, but again we'll look carefully at what evidence is there including whatever statements have been given by the two individuals and then we'll charge appropriately," the district attorney said.
"This person who came forward is a hero," Mayor Jim Schmitt said. "This was real, and I understand teenagers, you know, they may not want to be known, but this is someone that -- if he or she wants to be -- will be recognized in a big way by the City of Green Bay, because it was a life-saving move that took place yesterday."
Major news around here. I work at the courthouse, and it is CRAWLING with news stations from all over.
Boys Plotted to Attack East High with Guns, Bombs and Napalm, Say Police
Sep 15, 2006 12:50 PM CDT
Schools and "A Hero" Did Things Right, Officials Say
BREAKING NEWS COVERAGE: Police Reveal Details of Plot, Weapons
Check All | Clear All
By Jason Allen
Green Bay police say two 17-year-old boys, Shawn Sturtz and William Cornell, were planning to use bombs and other weapons on East High School.
A press conference Friday morning with police, the district attorney, mayor, school superintendent and others revealed more details about the thwarted attack and the investigation.
Police say this was a very real threat, and that the attack was planned for the near future. They say the boys wanted an assault like the Columbine High School massacre in 1999.
Captain Lisa Sterr said investigators found 20 unsophisticated homemade bombs in one boy's house on Van Buren Street, along with jars of gelled gasoline -- a generic napalm. The bombs were made with toilet paper tubes, buckshot, and fireworks. The boys told police they learned how to make bombs from Web sites.
Police confiscated one semi-automatic weapon, nine long guns such as shotguns, more than 100 rounds of ammunition, bomb-making materials, camouflage clothes, walkie-talkies, and mannequins that may have been used for target practice, "numerous publications" about weapons and combat tactics, and a computer.
Police are recommending charges of conspiracy to commit first-degree intentional homicide and conspiracy to commit arson.
District Attorney John Zakowski said the teens will be in court Friday afternoon for a bond hearing. Because police are still investigating, he's not sure exactly what charges he'll file against the boys -- and possibly even their parents.
"It isn't a question of what you want to do, it's a question of what you should do based on the evidence. The primary focus is on the two kids. We're going to be aggressive but fair; we'll charge appropriately. As to the parents, there has to be a crime committed. You can't charge a parent for simply being ignorant -- if that was true, we'd be in court a lot more often -- and so we'll see what evidence there is and if there are any charges that are appropriate."
Police say the boys had felt depressed for years, feeling like outsiders who never really fit in at school. One of the boys had been "dating" a girl on the Internet, who recently broke up with him, which police suggested was the trigger for wanting to carry out the attack soon.
The plot was thwarted by one student who came forward after talking with their parents about the right thing to do.
School superintendent Dan Nerad said, "This young person felt that what he knew was important to communicate to adults, and obviously with some judgment that this was wrong. And I don't know to what extent this person knew all the details, but knew enough to be concerned about it. And also, we're of the understanding that he had careful communication with the parents in getting advice. This young person followed very good advice and came forward to a school staff member early yesterday morning."
"What you have there, and I think this is very real, if someone hadn't come forward, we'd probably be talking about funerals today instead of charges. We're talking about setting off bombs in school. We're talking about explosive charges. Potential homicide charges, arson charges, but again we'll look carefully at what evidence is there including whatever statements have been given by the two individuals and then we'll charge appropriately," the district attorney said.
"This person who came forward is a hero," Mayor Jim Schmitt said. "This was real, and I understand teenagers, you know, they may not want to be known, but this is someone that -- if he or she wants to be -- will be recognized in a big way by the City of Green Bay, because it was a life-saving move that took place yesterday."
Major news around here. I work at the courthouse, and it is CRAWLING with news stations from all over.
