Ryan Schallenberger Arrested for Plotting "Columbine-Like" Massacre

April 21, 2008

A high school student from Chesterfield, South Carolina, was arrested this past weekend after his parents called police and alerted them to bomb-making materials that had been delivered to their home.  The teen's parents also told police about a journal they found, in which their son described his bomb plot as "Columbine III." Chesterfield police have identified the Eric Harris/Dylan Klebold sympathizer as 18-year-old Ryan Schallenberger, a senior at Chesterfield High School.

The plot unfolded on Saturday, when Schallenberger's parents opened a US Postal Service Priority Mail package that was delivered to their house. They were shocked to discover the box contained 10 pounds of ammonium nitrate, an oxidizing agent used in explosives.  The substance was most notably used as a bomb-making agent in the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City that killed nearly 200 people.

After opening the package, Schallenberger's parents did a little investigating and discovered a journal their son had allegedly written, in which he detailed...

Continue Reading Ryan Schallenberger Arrested for Plotting "Columbine-Like" Massacre

Photo Courtesy of Chesterfield County Sheriff's Department

Comments

[Suzan]

Kudos to his parents! For they have not only saved lives, they saved the life of their own son. Also exposing the dangers of purchases that can be made on-line. Certainly they are grieving the arrest of their son at this time. But have ultimately done a righteous act. Prayers for them at this very difficult time. Maybe now one can discuss what led a good student to plan such a horrendous act. As it seems there isn't any conclusive psychological hindsight in past cases where the act was followed through. (The deceased does not always leave behind answers or motives)

[burbank,ca mom]

what made Schallenberger's parents open their sons mail? how where they able to to identify this product as a bomb making additive? evidently parents need more education on this,(myself included) but if that had been me in their place, i never would have suspected or thought " this looks like bomb making material" that was delivered to my home. what does it look like? why is it so easy to get? can anyone just order materials to make bombs? what are the laws of shipping that product through the U.S. mail? its not a federal offense? who can answer these questions?

[David Lohr]

Hi Burbank Mom,

Thanks for the comments. From what I gather, the box the material came in had special markings that noted, per postal regulations, what was inside. His parent's also had to sign special forms to accept the package. That was enough to make them raise their eyebrows and investigate further.

I hope that answers your question. Please feel free to comment anytime.

Regards,

David Lohr

[Jenna Bass]

Well I think his parents did the right thing.. I know it had to be hard for them tho.. But to me I think he should go to jail for a while.. Then when or If he gets out he should go to a mental hospital.. He really needs to get help.. I think if he dont get help then he will go back and try to do everything all over agian.. He needs somewhere to go to think about what he was wanting or going to do.. Thank God for his parents opening his mail.. A lot of people would have been hurt or killed.. I really dont think anywhere is safe anymore.. People cant even do anything without the fear of someone going to kill or hurt them.. What are all of these people thinking?? Why do they want to kill people that has never done anything to him.. Please help me understand..

[Margaret, The Worried Mother In Dallas]

I think that the media is to blame for all of this. they sensationalize the notion of mass destruction and revenge. They somehow glorify it.

Young kids watch a great deal of television and listen to violent music and often base their perception of the world upon media content. How the media define reality is how many observers then define reality. This is not surprising given the extent of electronic socialization to which most youth are exposed today.

My 13-year old son listens to a Scottish band called Mogwai and their new album has a song called "I Love You, I'm Going to Blow Up Your School".

While I find this appauling he thinks its delightful. Even the music blogs he reads say it's "Amazing":

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/51240-the-new-mogwai-album-tracklist-is-amazing

I think the media needs to assume more responsibility in these matters with both their amplification of these sentiments and the affect on children.