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'Columbine-style' plot uncovered
31/01/2001 09:05 - (SA)
Cupertino, California - Police say a photo lab clerk tipped them to a community college
student who allegedly had dozens of pipe bombs, Molotov cocktails
and other weapons stashed in his room at home and planned to use
them in a "Columbine-style attack" on his school.
Al DeGuzman, 19, remained in Santa Clara County jail Tuesday after
bail was set at $100 000. He was charged with 30 counts of
possession of an explosive device, 20 counts of possession of a
firebomb, and two counts of possession of an illegal weapon - a
sawed-off shotgun and a rifle.
His arraignment was not expected until Wednesday, said Tom Farris,
assistant Santa Clara County district attorney.
DeGuzman had 30 pipe bombs, 20 Molotov cocktails, several weapons
and a stock of ammunition, said sheriff's spokesperson Captain Cary
Colla.
Police closed De Anza College on Tuesday, believing DeGuzman
planned to blow it up. The 112-acre campus, with about
26 000 students, is 72 kilometres south of San
Francisco.
Police searched the campus and said they found nothing suspicious.
Classes will resume on Wednesday morning, De Anza President Martha
Kanter said.
"This was an elaborate plan for a mass murder," said San Jose
Deputy Police Chief Mike Miceli. "He had a game plan and was very
intent on doing what he was going to do."
Police offered no motive for the alleged plan and said they believe
DeGuzman had no prior criminal record.
Authorities said they learned of DeGuzman's arsenal on Monday from a
photo lab clerk who called police after developing pictures of
DeGuzman allegedly posing with the arsenal.
When DeGuzman arrived at the drug store to pick up his pictures,
the clerk stalled him by asking for identification until police
could arrest him, Deputy Chief Miceli said.
Meanwhile, police say they searched the one-story San Jose home
where DeGuzman lived with his parents and found some 60 explosive
devices in his bedroom.
A diagram of the De Anza campus and other notes indicated that
DeGuzman intended to begin planting bombs at 4:30am on Tuesday and
launch his attack at 12:30pm in the school's main cafeteria,
police said.
Police say they also found an audiocassette recording in which
DeGuzman sympathised with two teenage gunmen who killed 13 people
and themselves at Colorado's Columbine High School in April 1999.
Police said the recording also included apologies to his parents,
friends and the news media.
"The tape recording was just bone chilling," Miceli said.
DeGuzman's parents told police they respected his privacy and never
entered the bedroom.
Phone messages left at the DeGuzman house were not returned and a
woman who answered the door said the family had no comment.
Meanwhile, DeGuzman's neighbours described him as an unassuming kid
from a good home.
"He's a choir boy, like a straight-up school boy," said 18-year-old
Bobby Playa, who attends Independence High School, where DeGuzman
was a 1998-99 yearbook editor.
- Sapa-AP
- SAPA
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