Ryan Schallenberger

High school senior Ryan Schallenberger of Chesterfield, South Carolina, was arrested on Saturday, April 19, 2008, for allegedly planning to carry out a suicide attack at his school. Schallenberger is facing a federal charge of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction as well as two lesser charges, trying to use explosives on a federally funded building and buying explosives intended for use against people and property. The former charge carries a life sentence.

Before his arrest Schallenberger reportedly smashed his head into a wall. Prosecutors in South Carolina are seeking a mental evaluation of Schallenberger.

Evidence

Schallenberger's parents tipped off police when they received a package containing 10 pounds of ammonium nitrate. His parents also found a journal detailing plans for the attack.

An eBay account with the username "ryanschallenberger" shows a purchase of 10 pounds of ammonium nitrate. The purchase was accepted on April 14, 2008.

According to reports, Schallenberger's journal, titled "Columbine III," contained over a year's worth of plans for the attack, including maps of the school and the cost of supplies. Schallenberger didn't want his attack to be a copycat of the Columbine massacre, but wrote of his admiration of those attackers.

Schallenberger made no mention of a timeline for an attack, and no specific students or teachers were named in the journal.

Columbine

In the Columbine attack, on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, 15 people were killed, including the two attackers.

Security Upgrades

Chesterfield High School will have higher security when students return on April 21, 2008. Metal detectors and bomb and drug sniffing dogs are being used to help ensure the safety of students.