In the wake of the nations second worst school shooting, poliice in Everett, Washington are praising a grandmother who saved countless lives and foiled a massacre.
“This is a case where the adage ‘see something, say something’ potentially saved many lives,” said Everett Police Chief Dan Templeman in a press release. “It is critically important for community members, to include students and parents, to remain observant and immediately report odd or suspicious behaviors with our children or with fellow students. We were fortunate that a family member believed there were credible threats and contacted law enforcement for further investigation. I’m sure the decision was difficult to make, but fortunately, it was the correct one.”
On Tuesday, February 13, 2018 the unnamed grandmother of 18-year-old Joshua Alexander O’Connor called 911 to report a threat made by her 18-year-old grandson. Everett police officers were dispatched to her home on the 10600 block of Holly Dr.
The homeowner showed the officer’s her grandson’s journal, which included detailed plans for building homemade explosive devices and the intention to shoot students at the local ACES High School. “I’m preparing myself for the school shooting,” O’Connor wrote in his journal. “I can’t wait. My aim has gotten much more accurate … I can’t wait to walk into that class and blow all those (expletives) away.”
The grandmother was shocked to find a semi-automatic rifle hidden inside a guitar case in O’Connor’s bedroom. “I need to make this count,” O’Connor wrote. “I’ve been reviewing many mass shootings/bombings (and attempted bombings) I’m learning from past shooters/bombers mistakes.”
According to the Everett Herald, O’Connor wrote about flipping a coin to decide between targeting Kamiak High School or ACES. O’Connor had the opportunity to attend Kamiak or ACES, which offers smaller class sizes for students at risk of dropping out. He later wrote ACES won the toss.
In his journal, O’Connor described an armed robbery. Police now believe O’Connor may have been one of the masked men who held up a convenience store on the 900 block of W Casino Road on Monday. O’Connor described feeling “powerful” as he held the cashier’s life in his hands. Security footage showed one robber carrying what appears to be an AK-47 style rifle. O’Connor’s grandmother told police that her grandson returned home with a guitar case the same evening as the robbery.
With the information provided by the grandmother, the officers applied for a warrant. A further search of O’Connor’s room found a rifle, two grenades, masks, and a jacket matching the one worn by one of the armed robbers. O’Connor’s high school was notified and the teenager was arrested.
“Our main thing right now is gratitude, especially to the grandmother,” said Mukilteo School District spokesman Andy Muntz. “That couldn’t have been easy for her to do. The Everett police also did a wonderful job. That combination may have saved a lot of lives.”
During his arrenst, O’Connor kicked one of the officers. Once in police custody, O’Connor admitted to the robbery. He has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, felony assault on an officer, and first-degree robbery.
O’Connor is currently being held at the Snohomish County Jail on three felony counts. His bail has been set at $5 million.