Teen bound over for trial in alleged mass school shooting plot
BY LAURA SUMMERS World Correspondent
Thursday, February 21, 2013
2/21/13 at 11:41 AM
BARTLESVILLE– An 18-year-old BartlesvilleHigh Schoolsenior was bound over for trial Thursday on a charge of plotting a mass school shooting after a preliminary hearing that included testimony on notes he had written saying he was becoming “comfortable” with the idea of killing.
After hearing testimony from three police officers and a high school student, Special Judge John Gerkin found there was probable cause to bind over for trial Sammie Eaglebear Chavez on a charge of planning, attempting or conspiring to perform an act of violence with the intention of causing serious bodily harm or death to other students. He remains jailed with a $1 million bond.
The Washington County District Attorney’s Office entered as evidence in the case notes that were found by police in Chavez pocket when he was arrested.
Bartlesville Police Officer Jacob Moran read aloud part of the notes in which Chavez talks about thoughts of killing or hurting someone making him smile.
“How many times must the freaks or nerds or punks or geeks shoot up a school before they let us express ourselves without ridiculing us…” Chavez states in the notes. “Those who deserve to die will be killed. Those that don’t know our cause will be forced to witness it.”
Tyler White, a Bartlesville High student, testified of sitting in the cafeteria on Dec. 12 at a table with Chavez who was outlining “a plan to shoot up the high school. They would lock the doors and get everyone to the auditorium.”
He testified Chavez was planning to have an announcement over the intercom to get classmates to the high school auditorium and then to begin shooting after the doors were locked with chains and pipe bombs would be placed by the exits.
Chavez was arrested by Bartlesvillepolice at 4:50 a.m.Dec. 14 on a warrant after an investigation into concerns brought by students to school administrators concerned about the cafeteria conversation. When police arrested Chavez they found in his pocket the notes detailing thoughts about killing students. The notes were dated Dec. 3, 4, 5 and 6, 2012.
Bartlesville Police Lt. Kevin Ickleberry testified his search of Chavez home turned up a Marlin model 99 M1 .22-caliber semi-automatic rifle that was located just inside the front room beside the couch.
Ickleberry also took several photographs of what Chavez’s mother called “the murder table.” On the table the word “murder” was carved repeatedly along with several dates. Ickleberry told the court when he researched the dates, information about school shootings and mass shootings turned up.
Gerkin agreed to a request from District Attorney Kevin Buchanan to adjust the charge against Chavez to include a section of law that addresses planning violence as well as one that includes acts of violence.
Chavez will return to court March 27 for formal arraignment.
Associated Images:
Sammie Chavez is led into a Bartlesville courtroom for a preliminary hearing today. Chavez is charged with planing a mass school shooting in Bartlesville. MICHELLE M. MARTIN/For the Tulsa World
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