Indiana Teen Accused of Plotting Valentine’s Day School Shooting was Inspired by the Parkland Massacre
An 18-year-old Indiana teenager, Trinity Shockley, has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder and two terrorism-related charges after allegedly planning a school shooting on Valentine’s Day, inspired by the gunman who murdered 17 people at a Parkland, Florida, high school on February 14, 2018.
Background
Detectives with the Mooresville Metropolitan Police Department received information from the FBI that a person, later identified as Shockley, was potentially planning a school shooting at Mooresville High School. The information was received on February 10, 2023, exactly seven years after the Parkland shooting.
Plot Unfolds
According to the affidavit, a tipster called the FBI’s Sandy Hook tip line and said their friend had access to an AR-15, had just ordered a bulletproof vest, and admires Nikolas Cruz, the Parkland shooter. The tip included messages Shockley appears to have sent on the messaging app Discord, describing plans for the shooting.
Motivations
The affidavit describes what Shockley allegedly wrote in notebooks professing love for past shooters, including Cruz. "I cannot stop thinking about Nikolas," Shockley wrote. "Why must he be so far away….I love you Nikolas."
Search Warrant and Discovery
Police executed a search warrant at Shockley’s home on Wednesday and found a collage on the wall of Shockley’s room with photos of Cruz; Dylan Roof, perpetrator of the 2015 Charleston, South Carolina, church mass shooting; and Randy Stair, who killed three coworkers at a Pennsylvania supermarket in 2017. Police also found three notebooks and a photo album depicting known mass shooters, including the three mentioned above.
Consequences
Shockley is currently being held in the Morgan County Jail without bond. The charges against them are conspiracy to commit murder and two terrorism-related charges.
Conclusion
The alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting on Valentine’s Day, inspired by the Parkland massacre, is a disturbing reminder of the impact of such tragic events on individuals and communities. The charges against Trinity Shockley serve as a warning to those who would seek to emulate such heinous crimes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the alleged motive behind the plot?
A: The alleged motive behind the plot was to carry out a mass shooting on Valentine’s Day, inspired by the Parkland massacre.
Q: How did the authorities learn about the plot?
A: The authorities learned about the plot through a tip from the FBI’s Sandy Hook tip line.
Q: What were some of the items found during the search warrant at Shockley’s home?
A: Some of the items found during the search warrant included a collage with photos of known mass shooters, notebooks with swastikas and violent language, and a soft armor vest.
Q: Is Shockley being held in custody?
A: Yes, Shockley is currently being held in the Morgan County Jail without bond.
