Mother bought three guns for teenage son

THE mother of a 14-year-old who authorities say had a cache of guns, knives and explosive devices in his bedroom for a possible school attack was charged yesterday with buying her son three weapons.

Michele Cossey bought her home-schooled son a .22-caliber handgun, a .22-caliber rifle and a 9 mm semiautomatic rifle, authorities said.

The teenager felt bullied and tried to recruit another boy for the possible attack at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, Pennsylvania, authorities said.

Acting on a tip from a high school student and his father, police found the rifle, about 30 air-powered guns, swords, knives, a bomb-making book, videos of the 1999 Columbine attack and violence-filled notebooks in the boy’s bedroom, Montgomery County District Attorney Bruce L Castor Jnr said.

Ms Cossey, 46, of Plymouth Meeting, bought the rifle, which had a laser scope, at a gun show on September 23 and provided police with a receipt, investigators said in court papers.

The teenager said the two .22-caliber weapons were stored at a friend’s house.

He was ordered to remain in juvenile detention.

His mother was charged with unlawful transfer of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a minor, corruption of a minor, endangering the welfare of a child and two counts of reckless endangerment.

Mr Castor has said he does not believe an attack was imminent or would occur at all.

He said the teen had a “disturbed mind”.

“This was a smart kid that clearly believes he was picked on and was a victim. He had psychological issues and began to act out on those feelings.”

The teen previously attended middle school in the district but had been taught at home for more than a year after voluntarily leaving school, Mr Castor said.

The arrest came the same day a 14-year-old in Ohio opened fire at his Cleveland high school, wounding four before killing himself.