(DailyChive.com) – FBI agents have thwarted a teenager’s elaborate plot to carry out a mass shooting and bombing at the Three Rivers Mall in Kelso, Washington, preventing what officials described as a meticulously planned attack that included homemade explosives, multiple firearms, and a suicide finale.
At a Glance
- A Columbia County, Oregon teenager was arrested for planning a mass shooting and bombing at Three Rivers Mall in Kelso, Washington
- The FBI acted on a May 19 tip and arrested the suspect on May 22 with assistance from local law enforcement
- Authorities seized weapons, ammunition, mall schematics, digital devices, and clothing intended for the assault during the arrest
- The teen had pledged allegiance to online nihilistic, violent extremist groups and posted detailed attack plans online
- Law enforcement officials emphasize the critical role of public reporting in preventing the attack
Swift FBI Response Prevents Tragedy
The FBI Portland Field Office and Columbia County Sheriff’s Office successfully intercepted what could have been a devastating attack at the Three Rivers Mall in Kelso, Washington. Following a tip received on May 19, 2025, federal agents quickly investigated and identified an Oregon-based juvenile who had been meticulously planning a mass casualty event since the beginning of the year. The teen had posted detailed plans online just days before the FBI intervention, providing law enforcement with critical evidence of the impending threat.
On May 22, the FBI Portland SWAT team located and arrested the suspect at their residence in Columbia County, Oregon. During the arrest, authorities seized a disturbing arsenal including three handguns, ammunition, four knives, and five digital devices. Perhaps most concerning were the detailed schematics of the mall and specially selected clothing intended for the planned assault, demonstrating the advanced stage of the plot’s development.
The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed due to his age, allegedly planned to detonate a chlorine bomb to create chaos and panic before shooting fleeing patrons exiting a movie theater, the FBI Portland Field Office said in a statement. https://t.co/IORwVV1APS
— WSIL News (@WSILNews) June 7, 2025
Detailed and Dangerous Plot
The teen’s plan revealed a chilling level of premeditation. According to investigators, the suspect intended to first detonate a homemade chlorine bomb to create panic and chaos throughout the shopping center. This would be followed by a methodical shooting spree targeting both moviegoers and general mall patrons. The plot included a predetermined route through the mall designed to maximize casualties, with special attention given to shooting at people fleeing the initial explosion.
“This plot was as serious as it gets. We, along with our partners, moved swiftly to interrupt this violent plan and to protect our community.”
FBI Special Agent Douglas A. Olson revealed that the juvenile had “pledged allegiance to several online nihilistic, violent extremist groups and ideologies.” This online radicalization appears to have fueled the violent intentions, with the suspect planning to ultimately commit suicide at a specific location within the mall after completing the attack. The teen had documented these plans in detail online on May 17, just days before the FBI received the crucial tip.
Legal Proceedings and Public Safety
The Columbia County District Attorney’s Office is now handling the case, with charges pending in juvenile court. While moving such cases to adult court remains rare and procedurally difficult, prosecutors are reviewing all options given the severity of the planned attack. This case follows another recent incident in Bend, Oregon, where law enforcement arrested a man for threatening a mass shooting, highlighting ongoing concerns about violent extremism in the region.
FBI officials emphasized the crucial role that public vigilance played in preventing this attack. The timely tip on May 19 allowed for rapid information sharing between agencies and swift intervention. Without identifying the specific source of the information, authorities stressed that community reporting of suspicious activities remains one of the most effective tools in preventing mass casualty events. The case demonstrates the importance of both public awareness and interagency cooperation in countering domestic terrorism threats.
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