Colville Fifth-Graders Admit Plot To Kill Classmate

Colville, WA – Two fifth-graders were arrested on February 7 after having brought a knife and handgun to school with the intent to kill classmates.

The children, ages 10 and 11, have been accused of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and are due in court February 20 for an initial hearing.

A judge will determine if the boys will be prosecuted in juvenile court.

Reuters reported that the boys boarded a school bus carrying the concealed weapons — a knife, functional .45 caliber Remington semi-automatic handgun, and full ammunition clip — however, a fourth-grade student noticed the knife and told a teacher’s aide, which prompted school officials to confiscate the weapons from the children before any was injured.

Questioned separately, both boys confessed to their plans to kill one girl and attack six other peers.

“I was going to kill her with the knife and [10-year-old] was supposed to use the gun to keep anyone from trying to stop me or mess up our plan,” the 11-year-old told police in a declaration of probable cause.

The older boy also pointed out six other classmates, and told officials that he wanted to kill the girl because “she’s rude and always made fun of me and my friends,” according to the Daily Mail.

Tim Rasmussen, Stevens County prosecuting attorney, said that the boys also tried to bribe another peer with $80 to keep him from telling authorities what a he knew.

The older boy told officers that he obtained the firearm from his older brother’s room, who had taken the gun from their deceased grandfather’s home several months earlier. Police have confirmed that the weapon belonged to their grandfather.

If convicted, the Colville boys could be sentenced to over three years at a juvenile detention center.