Suicide, Shooting Plots Uncovered At School, Police Say

WGAL 8
May. 17, 2006

CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Pa. -- State police in Cumberland County said they uncovered two separate possible plots at Big Spring Middle School this week, one a shooting and the other a suicide pact.

School officials said two female students at Big Springs Middle School were suspended Monday after planning to shoot themselves in a school restroom.

"There was not an indication of when, a day or a week, or how," said Superintendent Richard Fry.

However, Fry did say that the girls had drawn up a map of where the shooting was to occur. Fry also said the girls tried to persuade other students to join them.

No weapons were found and the two girls did not indicate they planned to harm anyone else, according to Fry.

Fry said suicide threats are handled as mental-health issues. But because the girls tried to persuade others to harm themselves, Fry said they were suspended. He said that they will not be in school "for the foreseeable future," and further disciplinary measures may be taken.

School officials said the incident would be referred to Newville police to decide if criminal charges are warranted.

School Bus Threat

Fry said word of the alleged suicide spread Monday and that students were talking about it on a school bus.

Police said one student, a 15-year-old eighth-grader, said he'd bring a gun to school the next day and take care of what the girls could not do. Police said they learned of the threat and that when they searched the teen's Upper Frankford Township home, they found unsecured weapons. Police said they also found unsanitary living conditions in the home, including piles of trash, animal feces, dirty clothing, mold and hundreds of flies. The teen and another child were removed from the home. Both are now in the custody of Cumberland County Children and Youth Services.

The 15-year-old has also been suspended from school.

Columbine Documentary Recently Shown To Students

News of the alleged plots comes after a Columbine documentary was shown to students just a few weeks ago.

"Rachel's Challenge" tells the story of a student killed at Columbine. It includes scenes of what happened at the school. Fry said the film is meant to teach about diversity and acceptance of others. He now says it was a mistake to show the documentary, one which could have caused a tragedy.

"Some of our students didn't get by the Columbine side of things," Fry said.

Parents are also angry. They said there were not notified that the documentary would be shown. Some parents said they would not have allowed their children to see it.

School officials said lockers were searched at the school and no weapons were found.