Teen In Bomb Plot Wanted To "Kill Jesus"

[Luke Groundwalker]

(AP) A teen accused of plotting to blow up his high school told police that he wanted to die, go to heaven and kill Jesus, federal authorities said Tuesday.

Prosecutors argued in a federal courtroom that the statements are an indication that 18-year-old Ryan Schallenberger needs a psychological evaluation. The straight-A Chesterfield High School senior was arrested April 19 and faces several state and federal charges, including attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. That charge carries a possible life sentence if he is convicted.

"His conduct is bizarre," prosecutor Buddy Bethea told Judge Thomas Rogers III, who did not immediately issue a ruling. "I think it screams out in his conduct that he be evaluated."

Defense attorney Bill Nettles said the request was premature, and that Schallenberger was competent to help in his defense.

Prosecutors want Schallenberger, currently at Chesterfield County jail, moved to a federal facility because they think he may try to commit suicide. His journal writings have become increasingly violent over the past year, prosecutor Rose Mary Parham said.

An agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives testified that the teen told a sheriff he wanted to die after his arrest.

"He said death was better than life," Craig Townsend said. "He told the sheriff he wanted to die and go to heaven and once he got there, he wanted to kill Jesus."

Prosecutors also played a 911 tape of the teen's mother calling police after he smashed his head into a wall two days before his arrest. On the tape, she says her son threatened to shoot police if they came.

"He's not going to do it," Laurie Sittler told the operator. "He's just got a bad temper."

The teen left but his mother was scared he would return, she said in the call. "He's planning to go to college and everything, but I don't know what to do," she said.

Schallenberger was arrested after his parents picked up at the post office a package addressed to the teen containing 20 pounds of ammonium nitrate. They got nervous and looked through his room where they found a cassette tape he wanted played after he died, which they took to the sheriff's office, the agent testified. Authorities found his journal, which lauded the Columbine killers, after searching his room.

The 50-page journal contained notes on more than 10 types of explosives that Schallenberger experimented with and evaluated a year ago, the agent testified. It had a black cover and "Pisces" written on the front, and authorities have said it contained detailed plans to bomb Chesterfield High School.

Schallenberger's parents were at the hearing but would not comment.

Townsend also testified Schallenberger's mother called police to the home in April last year, when the teen was arrested for breach of peace. He said the teen became enraged and knocked over furniture after his mother asked him to walk with his sister to a grandparent's home.

Authorities also seized a computer that shows he searched Web sites for making bombs, a shotgun, carbon dioxide canisters, "hundreds and hundreds" of matchsticks, and more cassette tapes that they have not yet heard, Townsend said.

Source: Teen In Bomb Plot Wanted To "Kill Jesus", Prosecutors Worry 18-Year-Old South Carolina Senior May Commit Suicide - CBS News

All I can say is...lolwut?

[Rew]

Yeah, so this occurred seriously only a couple counties away from where I live. Pretty danged scary. Other than that, I just don't know what to say about such a one as that young man.

[Margar]

well i was under the impression that most people who believe in god/jesus believe that if you kill yourself, you don't go to heaven. so doesn't that make his plan kind of... pointless?
(not to mention jesus can't be killed, since he's, ya know- GOD)

[Lly]

A teen accused of plotting to blow up his high school told police that he wanted to die, go to heaven and kill Jesus, federal authorities said Tuesday.

That sounds an awful lot like beating a dead horse.

Or, I suppose in this case, killing an already-killed, arisen and presently non-physical first century rabbi!

It's not only insane. It's also highly impractical! That boy needs to get his facts straight.

[Link]

HEY GUYS!

IM MAD AND HAVE ANGER ISSUES!

IM GOING TO KILL MYSELF AND KILL JESUS AFTERWARDS!

Seriously. This is so ****ing retarded it makes me laugh. Hard.

[Luke Groundwalker]

I can imagine an epic battle between this kid and Jesus in Heaven with Jesus toying him all, "Lol, can't kill me!"

[JC Farrell]

something was definately wrong with that kid,

well with him killing himself he punched his ticket to a different resort, its the one with the flaming fire jacuzzi. I'm sure he's having one HELL of a time there

[Kouten]

I actually feel sorry for kids like that. You know, often times, it isn't necessarily their fault. Emotions can be dictated by chemical reactions in your brain, and the person has very little control over it without medication. Depression, for example, can actually be a mental and physical condition. However, there's no telling in this case. It could just be that he's crazy or just overreactive.

[Tazryl]

I am kinda upset at the reaction to this, you all seem to look at the 'kill jesus' and ignore whats important.

This guy was going to bomb his school killing who knows how many people. Its not just some rantings and empty threats, everything he has done points to the idea that he had EVERY intention of going through with this.

Its disgusting how some of you think this to be some kind of joke, his goals of killing jesus are insane, and makes for a good defense of mental illness.

[Luke Groundwalker]

Originally Posted by Tazryl

I am kinda upset at the reaction to this, you all seem to look at the 'kill jesus' and ignore whats important.

This guy was going to bomb his school killing who knows how many people. Its not just some rantings and empty threats, everything he has done points to the idea that he had EVERY intention of going through with this.

Its disgusting how some of you think this to be some kind of joke, his goals of killing jesus are insane, and makes for a good defense of mental illness.

Who cares if he bombed the school? Happens all the time!

This kid was gonna kill Jesus and that's quite funny! Hurhurhurhurhur!

[Verrick]

Despite the terrible idiocy of this boy aswell and his demented intentions, I can't help but laugh a bit. I mean really, kill Jesus? What kind of moron is he?

[Margar]

Originally Posted by Tazryl

Its disgusting how some of you think this to be some kind of joke, his goals of killing jesus are insane, and makes for a good defense of mental illness.

joke- no. insane- obviously. mental illness- CLEARLY!

Originally Posted by Rhalen

Despite the terrible idiocy of this boy aswell and his demented intentions, I can't help but laugh a bit. I mean really, kill Jesus? What kind of moron is he?

QFT. the important thing was that he was stopped before he went through with it.

Originally Posted by Luke Groundwalker

Who cares if he bombed the school? Happens all the time!

This kid was gonna kill Jesus and that's quite funny! Hurhurhurhurhur!

you, sir, just sound like an @$$. that's just plainheartless. yes, I can laugh at the "killing jesus" lunacy- but to say "who cares- it happens all the time"
is exactly the desensitizing that is happening with people these days. SERIOUSLY- "WHO CARES??!?!?!" how can you say that. that's just freaking sick.
EDIT: it seems I'm the idiot. that was sarcasm, yes?

[Liah]

If he is ill, mentally ill, I'm not amused. I have a family member who suffers a serious mental illness and because of this, she can't live with my family anymore for fear of her hurting herself, or others. It started when I was just a kid and I didn't understand it at the time. I gave her such a difficult time thinking she could help her actions, when she couldn't. If it is the same case with this kid, I sympathise. He's so young and if people are reacting how I've seen in this thread, I'm even more sympathetic because I've seen someone do things they think is right and get **** from those around them, myself included, because of our lack of understanding.

Since I don't know, though, whether this is just teen rebellious stuff (err, extreme rebel), I will be glad at least that no one was hurt and hope that his family will be okay. If the kid needs help, I hope he receives it and gets better over time.

[lftenjamin]

Originally Posted by Luke Groundwalker

Oh boohoo! Cry me a river. "Oh no! People are gonna die, wut shall I do~?!"

Bury them?

In all seriousness, the epic battle in heaven would be amazing. They could film it and everything.

Mental guy is mental, what else is there to say?

[Kouten]

Originally Posted by Tazryl

Its disgusting how some of you think this to be some kind of joke, his goals of killing jesus are insane, and makes for a good defense of mental illness.

I never said he was mentally ill because of "wanting to kill Jesus." I did say, however, that there's a good chance he is. I took everything into account (including the bomb) and from what his mother said, it seems that he's so extremely over-emotional to the point where, yes, it might be a real mental disorder. Why does that seem so hard to believe? We don't know what his life is like, so I'm not passing judgement. I'm simply saying that it's a possibility. If he's not literally mental, then he's just had way too much to deal with and thought of a terrible way of doing it.

Originally Posted by Margar

QFT. the important thing was that he was stopped before he went through with it.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by Margar

you, sir, just sound like an @$$. that's just plainheartless. yes, I can laugh at the "killing jesus" lunacy- but to say "who cares- it happens all the time"
is exactly the desensitizing that is happening with people these days. SERIOUSLY- "WHO CARES??!?!?!" how can you say that. that's just freaking sick.
EDIT: it seems I'm the idiot. that was sarcasm, yes?

I'm pretty sure it was.

Originally Posted by lftenjamin

Bury them?

In all seriousness, the epic battle in heaven would be amazing. They could film it and everything.

Mental guy is mental, what else is there to say?

1st. How do you get a film crew into heaven (without killing them) so that it's also possible to have the movie for our enjoyment?
2nd. I said there's only a chance he's mental. A good chance, but still just a chance.

[Midna of Twili]

Originally Posted by Margar

well i was under the impression that most people who believe in god/jesus believe that if you kill yourself, you don't go to heaven. so doesn't that make his plan kind of... pointless?
(not to mention jesus can't be killed, since he's, ya know- GOD)

son of God

[Eternal Paradox]

...Thats pretty messed up.

But, it brings up an interesting question. How do you kill that which is dead?

Originally Posted by Midna of Twili

son of God

It depends on your religion.

[Rew]

Originally Posted by Midna of Twili

son of God

And according to classic Trinitarian doctrine as laid down at the Council of Nicaea, Son of God = God.

[Kouten]

Originally Posted by Eternal Paradox

But, it brings up an interesting question. How do you kill that which is dead?

Um...what?

"How do you paint a red car red?" Well, isn't it already red?

(No offense, just wondering)

[SkulkerZX]

Originally Posted by Luke Groundwalker

I can imagine an epic battle between this kid and Jesus in Heaven with Jesus toying him all, "Lol, can't kill me!"

Haha I got the perfect mental image from that, and Jesus releases a Fatality Mortal Kombat style, resulting in him falling back to earth and being pierced by a large spike.

[Luke Groundwalker]

Jesus won't die, he'll use the dragonballs.

Originally Posted by SkulkerZX

Haha I got the perfect mental image from that, and Jesus releases a Fatality Mortal Kombat style, resulting in him falling back to earth and being pierced by a large spike.

Jesus would just turn the kid into wine as his fatality.