Police in Philadelphia have a 14-year-old boy in custody who told police he was planning a "Columbine-type attack" on a suburban school. The boy, whose name isn't being released, is being charged with criminal attempt and possession of a criminal instrument. The police picked him up following a tip from another student and his father, and found a scary big arsenal, including home-made hand grenades, knives, swords and about 80 pellet guns. He also had a pistol and a rifle at the home of a family friend. And yes, he was being homeschooled after being bullied. Police say he planned to drive his car through the front door of the school and open fire.
So, why was his mother also arrested? When the story first came out, the D.A. said "I think that it would be impossible for both parents to be totally in the dark." I can imagine that yes, it would be hard to completely conceal your homemade grenade supplies and your mountain of guns. And as it turns out, the mother bought him a rifle at a gun show. She is being charged with providing a firearm to a minor and contributing to the corruption of a minor.
When these school tragedies explode, people often ask where the parents were in all of it. In this case, I'm not sure I want to know.
