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OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - A 14-year-old Tumwater boy who had done Internet research on school shootings and expressed a "fascination with Columbine," was arrested after a friend reported the teen had threatened to shoot students at his school and harm himself, a prosecutor said Tuesday.
Police found three guns and ammunition in the boy's home, and arrested him Monday, The Olympian reported ( http://is.gd/GMYFDE).
Thurston County Deputy Prosecutor Wayne Graham said Tuesday in court that the boy had expressed a fascination with the 1999 Colorado school shooting in which two student gunmen killed 12 students and a teacher before killing themselves.
Police went to the student's home Monday after hearing of the threats to shoot students at Black Hills High School, Tumwater police Detective Jen Kolb said. Two of the guns and the ammunition were found in the boy's bedroom, Kolb said, adding those guns were unloaded.
A juvenile court commissioner ordered the boy held pending a mental evaluation. Graham said the teen was arrested for investigation of harassment and unlawful possession of a firearm.
The guns included a 9 mm pistol, a shotgun and an "assault-style weapon," Graham said.
The boy's mother told the court her son "had some depression issues."
The boy's grandmother told an Olympian reporter that the teen has been depressed lately, and sees a counselor. She said he would never hurt anyone.
The Tumwater School District took precautions at the school on Monday, Kolb said. The boy didn't take the guns to school and no students were in direct danger, she added.
Kolb said the boy told police Monday he was not serious about the threat.
The district put the boy on emergency expulsion.
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Information from: The Olympian, http://www.theolympian.com
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