CINCINNATI– A teenager accused of creating a hit list and planning a mass murder at a high school near Cincinnati pleaded guilty Thursday to reduced charges of causing panic.
Prosecutors dropped a charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder against the 14-year-old, filed in February. He will be sentenced in July.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Melissa Powers said the teen exchanged text messages with a Colorado man about gassing the school and killing students and staff. Prosecutors decided not to charge the man because he was unable to participate in the scheme.
The county public defender’s office said shortly after the teen’s arrest that he had significant mental health issues and was impressionable.
Powers said the teen had a hit list containing the names of at least eight students and one teacher. The boy was arrested after telling another student about the scheme, investigators said.