It may sound more like a case involving a terrorism suspect, but a straight-A South Carolina high school student will face a charge of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. Ryan Schallenberger, 18, was arrested for allegedly plotting a suicide attack on his school in the small town of Chesterfield, S.C. He's seen here in court Tuesday. (source)Schallenberger will be charged with federal counts of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, attempting to use explosives on a building that gets federal funding, and using interstate commerce to obtain explosives to be used against people and property. Authorities have said Schallenberger bought the ammonium nitrate off eBay and that company said it's cooperating in the investigation.
Schallenberger's mother and stepfather, Laurie and John Sittley, are "heartbroken," according to Sheriff Sam Parker."They were very concerned about his future education. I kind of explained to them and told them we've got to deal with two options here, we've got to deal with his education or with his life," Parker told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Tuesday.The Sittleys have not commented publicly on the case.
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SC Teen Plotted to Bomb School
An 18-year old student in Chesterfield, SC is sitting in jail after being arrested for plotting to suicide bomb his high school. The whistle blowers: his parents (get them the Parents of the Year Award asap!). After a shipment of 10 pounds of ammonium nitrate, an oxidizing agent in explosives, was delivered to their home in Chesterfield, near the North Carolina border, Ryan Schallenberger's parents called police.
Schallenberger's journal revealed that he was sympathetic towards the two Columbine shooters and that he had been carefully and methodically plotting his attack for more than a year. The journal detailed his plans for a suicide attack and included maps of the school, police said. The writings did not include a specific time for the attack or the intended targets. He also left an audio tape to be played after he died explaining why he wanted to bomb his school. Police officials wouldn't detail what was on the tape except to say Schallenberger was an angry young man."He seemed to hate the world. He hated people different from him — the rich boys with good-looking girlfriends."
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