Washington State school shooting narrowly averted

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A 13-year-old Washington boy has been arrested after authorities allege he had "school shooter ideations" and a stockpile of weapons for an attack.

The Pierce County Sheriff's Office arrested the teenager, whose name has not been released, on Saturday after receiving information late Friday that there was a teen in the area who "was making threats to kill" and who said he had access to guns, according to a statement.

A search of the teenager's home upon his arrest yielded "a large quantity of firearms that were both secured and unsecured," the sheriff's office statement said.

Loaded magazines with school shooter writings on them, and clothing and writings that would support a typical mass shooting scenario, were confiscated," the sheriff's office added.

Deputy Carly Cappetto with the Pierce County Sheriff's Office said in a Monday video that officials found 23 firearms and several boxes of ammunition at the teenager's home. Many of the firearms lacked serial numbers, meaning they were illegal, Cappetto told NBC News affiliate KING5 in Seattle.

There were firearms mounted on the walls that were "accessible at any time" and unsecured handguns throughout the residence, Cappetto said. KING5 reported that a number of firearms were secured in a safe, according to Cappetto.

Evidence collected from the suspect's bedroom indicates he was "obsessed with past school shooters and imitated similar behaviors with photos and inscriptions throughout his room."

KING5 reported that officials also found a bag they believe indicates the teenager was prepared and ready for an attack, but declined to say what was inside the bag.

"It appeared the suspect had everything ready to go to commit a mass shooting type of incident," Cappetto said.

The teenager's intended target was unknown, Cappetto told KING5, "but it is clear it was only a matter of time before a tragic incident occurred."

Detectives working the case said the teenager posted photos of himself posing with the firearms on his social media accounts, KING5 reported. The photos allegedly appear to have been taken in the teen's parents' bedroom, which is where authorities later recovered the weapons.

One photo shows the barrel of a semi-automatic rifle protruding from what appears to be a mandolin case that was being worn as a backpack, according to court documents reviewed by KING5. The photo's caption read: "U'd never expedct it."

The suspect has been charged with attempted threat to bomb or injure a school, unlawful possession of a firearm in the second degree, and unlawful possession of fireworks, according to KING5.

As of Tuesday morning, the teenager's parents are not facing any charges, Cappetto told NBC News. She said authorities are still conducting interviews and that it will ultimately be up to the prosecutor to decide if the parents will face charges for improper storage and safekeeping of firearms or any other crimes.

The teenager is not currently enrolled in school, but was last enrolled in the Franklin Police School District in 2021, according to the sheriff's office.