Boy Accused In School Shooting Plot Is Plainfield Central Freshman: District 202

JOLIET, IL — The boy accused of plotting a school shooting at Grand Prairie Elementary School in Joliet is a freshman at Plainfield Central High School, according to Superintendent Glenn Wood. The boy's foiled plot unfolded on the last day of the school year, police said.

In a message sent to the District 202 community on Saturday, Wood said the boy last attended school in December and has a documented history of poor attendance.

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At 12:50 p.m. on Friday, police said sheriff's deputies responded to the boy's home in the 2400 block of rural Plainfield Township's Helmar Lane for a suicidal juvenile. Sheriff's officials said a relative discovered the boy was armed with a gun and dialed 911 while pinning him against the ground.

Will County Sheriff's officials said the juvenile was on his way to carry out a school shooting at Grand Prairie Elementary when the relative intervened.

According to officials, deputies detained the boy and confiscated the Glock handgun he had, as well as a backpack that contained multiple loaded magazines, knives, an accelerant, gloves and more.

The boy, whose name has not been released, was undergoing medical treatment and remained under close police watch at a medical facility, police said. According to the sheriff's office, he made both suicidal and homicidal statements to EMS workers on the scene.

Plainfield police and Plainfield School District 202 were later notified by the sheriff's office about the incident.

"For the remainder of the day, which was the last day of school, appropriate measures were taken at all school facilities, including an increased police presence," sheriff's office said.

"There was no active threat to students or staff because the incident occurred after students were dismissed due to early release," Wood said in his message to parents. "Staff who were in buildings after the incident occurred were placed in lockdown, outdoor activities were moved inside, and an increased police presence was established at school facilities for the remainder of the day."

Late Friday, the Will County Sheriff's Office said, "There is no threat to the community, this is an ongoing investigation and no charges have yet been filed."