In Pike County, Alabama, a 14-year-old boy is in police custody, accused of fatally shooting his 17-year-old brother and allegedly possessing a detailed “hit list” of family members and a school he intended to target, according to local law enforcement.
The teenager, whose identity has not been released due to his age, was taken into custody after his older brother was found dead on Tuesday. Sheriff Russell Thomas of the Pike County Sheriff’s Office revealed that the investigation led to the discovery of a “hit list” that included family members and Pike County High School.
The list, according to Sheriff Thomas, was not only a compilation of potential victims but also contained specific details about the locations and methods of execution. The information was reportedly obtained from a friend of the suspect, who was aware of the teenager’s deadly intentions.
The “hit list” was found during a search of the boy’s home and backpack. The sheriff confirmed that the teenager had plans to carry out a shooting at his high school. The list also included family members whom the teenager allegedly intended to kill.
The suspect reportedly confessed to killing his brother, who had been missing since Monday, during an interview with Sheriff Thomas. The elder brother’s body was discovered by their father on Tuesday after he picked up his younger son from school.
Pike County District Attorney James Tarbox revealed during a press conference that the suspect had made “disturbing and threatening statements to multiple students” prior to his arrest. One student was so disturbed by the teenager’s comments that he reported them to a teacher, who then informed the school administration.
Following the incident, the Pike County Board of Education Superintendent, Dr. Mark Bazzell, announced that the teenager was immediately removed from the school. The school system is cooperating with local law enforcement in the ongoing investigation. Despite no evidence of a direct threat to the schools, additional law enforcement presence has been requested on the Brundidge campuses as a precautionary measure.