Bond Kept At $250K For Suspect With 'Interest' In Mass Shooting

NORWALK, CT — Bond for Brandon Wagshol, the 22-year-old Norwalk man who police said "showed interest" in committing a mass shooting, was kept at $250,000 during an arraignment in Norwalk Superior Court on Friday.

Wagshol was arrested Wednesday evening and charged with multiple counts of possessing large capacity gun magazines, after the FBI and Norwalk police said investigators were tipped off that he was trying to buy parts online to build a rifle.

In court on Friday, Wagshol's attorney, Darnell Crosland, in arguing for a reduced bond, said that the magazines were purchased from a Bass Pro Shop before they were banned in the state.

"He is a graduate of Brien McMahon High School and a student at Central Connecticut State University," Crosland said, adding that some of the items seized by police date back to 2008 and were not purchased recently.

"He said he had no intention of committing a mass shooting," Crosland continued. Wagshol's father was in court Friday, and Crosland said Abraham Wagshol supports his son.

In a witness statement to police, Wagshol is quoted saying the following about the gun magazines and some of the other items found in his possession:

I drove to Halstead New Hampshire from Norwalk CT in about 3 hours to acquire 30 round magazines and ammunition to circumvent what I viewed as an unconstitutional restriction on the second amendment. I purchased 4 30 round magazines and 120 rounds of 300 Blackout ammunition for firearm training. I plan on building an 80% rifle kit which I purchased online from Ceratec, in California. The optics, camouflage clothing, and body armor were for the purposes of firearms training. I plan on completing the 80% firearm at my friend Alex's house in Easton. I did not have the intention of committing any mass shootings at all whatsoever. I am not being coerced in any way shape or form, and this statement is being given by my own free will.

Wagshol is scheduled to begin the next semester on Aug. 26, Crosland said, but he has been temporarily banned from the CCSU campus and placed on suspension pending the resolution of the investigation, writes News 12 Connecticut.

Among the items confiscated by police at the time of Wagshol's arrest included:

• Rifle scope with laser
• 4- firearm optic [sights]
• Firearm flashlight
• Numerous .40 caliber, .22 caliber and .300 Blackout rounds of ammunition
• Body armor with a titanium plate
• Camouflage shirt, pant and belt
• Ballistic helmet
• Tactical gloves

Two guns also were seized, but police said while Wagshol had access to them, they belonged to his father.

Whether Wagshol will make bond was not immediately known. His case was continued to Sept. 6 and transferred to Stamford Superior Court.