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Alex Cabrero ReportingOf all the places you would think teenagers would be safe, school is probably high on the list. But people in Vernal got concerned when word got out that a junior high school student was planning to kill several of his classmates.
The student accused of planning this vicious attack was talking about it recently on an internet chat room. Somehow that conversation made it to a Uinta County sheriff's deputy and he alerted Vernal police. What may be most disturbing is that a number of kids at the school apparently knew about this plan for at least 30 days, but didn't tell anyone.
Joann Durbin, Parent: "I tried to call my son, you know, as soon as I heard about it. The thing you think about immediately is Columbine."
Joann Durbin just had to know if all the rumors coming from the school were true.
Vernal police chief Gary Jensen was terrified when he learned a junior high student was chatting on the internet about attacking several of his classmates during school.
Chief Gary Jensen, Vernal Police: "Clearly, the intent, based on the documentation we received, was there."
As soon as police found out about all this, they came to the junior high school, first thing Wednesday morning. They searched the locker of the student in question. They found several documents, but no weapons.
Chief Gary Jensen: "A lot of different documentation, papers, reports left us with the idea that the mentality of this young man was serious in nature."
What's just as serious though, is it appears several students knew about this planned attack and didn't tell anyone.
Jennifer Christiansen, Parent: "The kids weren't scared, and that's what's scary. It should be a big deal."
School principal, Kent Bunderson is worried students didn't say anything because they didn't want to be perceived as tattle-tales.
Kent Bunderson, Principal, Vernal Junior High: "It is the right thing to do when there's safety involved."
Thankfully, the word spread before anything could happen. The student was charged with a third-degree felony and is now in juvenile custody. Police believe he was acting alone. Police also say the boy didn't have the means to carry out the attack, but it is still something they take seriously.
