Seattle (BN24) – Authorities in Washington state said they arrested a 13-year-old boy after seizing 23 firearms and large amounts of ammunition from his home, alleging the teenager had posted disturbing threats on social media and appeared to idolize notorious school shooters.
The boy, who is not being identified because he is a juvenile, was taken into custody early Saturday by a SWAT team in Pierce County, south of Seattle. Prosecutors charged him with five counts, including four felonies, related to unlawful firearms possession, threats of violence, and unlawful possession of explosives. He pleaded not guilty Monday during a juvenile court hearing and was ordered to remain in detention pending trial.
According to court documents, investigators discovered tactical-style rifles mounted on walls and handguns lying unsecured throughout the residence. Inside the boy’s bedroom, deputies said they found a heavy backpack beneath a turtle habitat that contained high-capacity AR-style magazines marked with references to mass shootings, including the 1999 Columbine High School massacre.
The probable cause statement also described crude drawings of mass shooters and social media posts dating back to June in which the boy posed with weapons and mimicked clothing worn by past attackers. One post reportedly read, “when I turn 21 I am going to kill people,” while another declared, “its over! my time is almost hear!”
Pierce County sheriff’s Deputy Carly Cappetto said the investigation now extends to the boy’s parents and whether they could face charges related to improper firearm storage. “It appeared the suspect had everything ready to go to commit a mass shooting type of incident,” Cappetto said. “We may never know the intended target, but it was clear this posed an imminent threat to the community.”
Washington law bars anyone under 18 from possessing firearms, with limited exceptions for hunting, firearm safety courses, and competitive shooting. The state also enforces a safe storage statute that holds adults criminally responsible if a prohibited person gains access to a firearm and uses it in a crime or displays it to intimidate others.
The teen’s mother, who attended Monday’s hearing, told local media her son never intended to hurt anyone and suggested the online posts were an attempt to appear “cool” among peers. But investigators said the cache of weapons and threatening messages showed otherwise.
The boy, who last attended public school in 2021 before being homeschooled, is scheduled for a pretrial conference on Sept. 17 and a detention review on Sept. 22, according to the Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office.
