PIERCE COUNTY, WA — A 13-year-old boy is in custody after Pierce County deputies and a SWAT team executed an early-morning arrest on September 6 following reports of school shooting threats.

Deputies said the juvenile had been making explicit threats to kill and claimed to have access to firearms. Investigators obtained a search warrant for the home, where they discovered 23 firearms along with several boxes of ammunition. According to authorities, rifles were mounted on walls, handguns were left unsecured throughout the residence, and all weapons were readily accessible.

Evidence collected from the boy’s bedroom suggested an obsession with past school shooters. Detectives reported finding photos, writings, and other items imitating mass shooting perpetrators. Officials stated the suspect appeared prepared to carry out a large-scale violent act, though no specific target has been identified.

Sheriff’s officials said the quick intervention likely prevented a tragedy. “It appeared the suspect had everything ready to go to commit a mass shooting type of incident,” the release noted.