PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The Oregon teen previously arrested in connection to a “detailed” plan for a mass shooting at a Washington state mall has been released from custody.
The Columbia County teen was accused by federal and local law enforcement of planning to use a chlorine bomb to cause panic and then shoot patrons at the Three Rivers Mall in Kelso, Washington before ultimately committing suicide.
However, his attorney told KOIN 6 News the teen has been released because the State of Washington was unable to prove an attempted murder had taken place.
“That is not due to the state’s attorneys being incapable, it is because the facts fail to show that a fourteen year old ever actually attempted to harm someone,” Christopher Heywood with Hoffman Law PNW said. “My client was never a danger to our community and we are no less safe now that he’s been released.”
The FBI first received a tip on May 19 about the alleged plan and identified the teen the following day. He was put under surveillance on May 20 and arrested on May 22.
According to investigators, the teen had been making “very detailed plans” since early 2025 which included a route to the mall, a map the shooter would follow, a planned wardrobe with weapons, and annotated schematics for the improvised bomb.
The teen also reportedly pledged allegiance to multiple “online nihilistic extremist groups and ideologies,” authorities said.
Stay with KOIN 6 News as we continue to follow this story.
