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CNN Live Sunday

Three Massachusetts High School Students Arrested for Plotting Columbine-Style Massacre

Aired November 25, 2001 - 17:53   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DONNA KELLEY, CNN ANCHOR: Three Massachusetts teenagers are due to be arraigned tomorrow on charges of plotting a Columbine-style attack at their high school. The suspects were arrested yesterday, months after investigators first learned of the plot. Reporter Rhondella Richardson from CNN affiliate WCVB has our report.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RHONDELLA RICHARDSON, WCVB CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The Columbine-style massacre being planned at New Bedford high school was supposed to happen on a still unspecified Monday. The threat was passed onto police just before Thanksgiving break, and yesterday three students were arrested based on the information.

ARTHUR KELLY, NEW BEDFORD POLICE CHIEF: A letter was found by a custodian at the high school that explicitly outlined an event that would occur on a Monday at New Bedford high school that involved explosives or the use of explosives, weapons and injuring and/or killing students and faculty.

RICHARDSON: Police arrested 17-year-old Eric McKihan (ph) and two 15-year-old juveniles. McKihan (ph) has been living with a friend's family since the summer.

LILLIAN RAMOS, SUSPECT'S NEIGHBOR: Very polite. He would come in and say hello. I thought, you know, he seemed like a quiet kid.

RICHARDSON: Police say McKihan (ph) and the other students called themselves the Trenchcoat Mafia, and wore mostly black. The Trenchcoat Mafia was also the named used by teens who went on a shooting spree at Columbine high school two years ago.

At a hockey game next door to New Bedford high, students are talking about the alleged plot.

RYAN SANTOS, STUDENT: I'm really scared to go to school and stuff. I don't want to get like blown up like stuff. Scared.

RICHARDSON: The alleged plot began unfolding in mid-October, when a student told a teacher about the plan, and police connected one of the suspects to bomb-making material found in a home. On November 20, the custodian found a tell-tale letter, leading police to make arrests and uncover even more disturbing evidence. KELLY: We also found photos of individuals with weapons.

RICHARDSON: Police say the threat is being taken very seriously to ensure the school is safe.

DR. JOSEPH SILVA, SUPERINTENDENT: Everything is in place to assure the students, staff, parents, the community that the school will be safe.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KELLEY: That was reporter Rhondella Richardson from CNN affiliate WCVB.

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