Charges have been filed against a man who identifies as a woman after he allegedly planned to carry out mass shooting attacks on multiple schools in Colorado Springs, the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office announced.
William Whitworth, 19, was charged on April 6 following an investigation into threats involving the schools in Colorado Springs Academy District 20, officials said.
Whitworth, who told police he identifies as “Lilly,” has been charged with two counts of criminal attempt to commit murder in the first degree, one count of criminal mischief, one count of menacing, and one count of interference with staff, faculty, or students of educational institutions.
The suspect is currently being held in the Elbert County Jail on a $75,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing on May 5, officials said.
According to arrest records obtained by local news outlets, Whitworth previously attended three District 20 schools in Colorado Springs for a total of nine months over a two-year period between August 2014 and October 2016: Prairie Hills Elementary, Home School Academy, and Timberview Middle School.
Arrest records state that a family contacted the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office after Whitworth allegedly made multiple references to school shootings and threatened to shoot up a school, NBC affiliate KOAA-TV reported.
Police reportedly visited Whitworth’s home and questioned him regarding the allegations, to which he allegedly responded by nodding his head when asked if he had planned to carry out a school shooting. According to arrest records, police believed Whitworth to be intoxicated when they arrived at the home to question him.
Police confirmed that Whitworth had once attended Timberview Middle School and the suspect allegedly confessed that he was planning on attacking that school for “no specific reason,” as well churches in the area, according to arrest records.
Police Find Manifesto
Whitworth reportedly confirmed to law enforcement officials that he had been planning the school shootings for months and had “too much” knowledge about school shootings.
His arrest affidavit reportedly references a manifesto with an entire page regarding mass killings, which allegedly includes drawings of classrooms and a detonator. Whitworth allegedly told police that he had watched a YouTube video to learn how to create a detonator.
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