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 Linda Thomas
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Linda is the morning news anchor and features reporter for KIRO Radio. This is her local news blog, with an emphasis on social media, technology, Northwest companies, education, parenting, and anything else that grabs her attention.

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A 13-year-old Eatonville boy who allegedly kept kill lists of student names in his notebook had access to guns. Pictures publically-posted on his Facebook page show him posing with guns. (Photo via Facebook, identity concealed because his is a minor)

Eatonville teen who allegedly kept kill lists had access to guns

February 12, 2013 @ 6:50 pm (Updated: 7:28 am - 2/13/13 )

A 13-year-old Pierce County boy kept a list of names of students he wanted to kill in a notebook, and students who he would not kill, according to court documents. There were at least 10 names on the 'kill list.'

Those documents show the eighth grader also had a list of names of people outside school he'd kill, and a list of people he'd leave alone.

Other boys knew about the teen's notebook, but he didn't get into trouble until until his "today's kill list" ended up in the recycle bin and a principal at Eatonville Middle School found it.

The boy, whom I'm not naming because he is a minor, was taken out of class last Friday, expelled from school and placed in juvenile detention.

Police records indicate the 13-year-old had access to weapons he used for hunting.

Two pictures posted on his Facebook page show him wearing camouflage clothing and posing with handguns. One shows him camping, with his hand resting on a gun in a waist-band holster. In the other, he's holding the weapon with both hands close to his face. Both were added last fall.

A third publicly-posted photo shows his creativity with a helicopter drawn on the ceiling of a bedroom with the ceiling fan acting as the propeller.

Two impressions of the boy came out in a hearing earlier this week. According to court documents, other students report hearing the teen said, "I'm going to kill you" or "You're on my kill list."

His family claims he has never been in trouble before and is not a threat. They urged a judge to release him from juvenile detention and promised to keep an eye on him 24/7, but the judge did not allow that.

Investigators will evaluate him, and will consider his release again during a hearing Thursday.

The Eatonville school district is planning a meeting for Feb. 19 at the high school to review school safety policies. That meeting, with police, was planned before the boy's alleged kill lists were discovered.

By LINDA THOMAS

More from Linda Thomas

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Comments (35)


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  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    Even the darkest, most heinous, murderous thought must not be considered a crime...
    February 13, 2013 5:38 am
    as long as it does not go beyond thought.

    There's nothing wrong with considering such a thought a cry for help. Clearly, the kid needs some.

    Funny how we all agree that kids shouldn't be allowed access to automobiles until at least 16, but in the absence of reasonable parenting what stops a 13 year old, a 10 year old, or even a 7 year old from running around in public with a loaded pistol?

    I support the Second, but just like voting I believe there are certain rights that are properly reserved for adults.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Chuck
    February 13, 2013 6:10 am
    Well put.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • RonJ wrote...
    Chuck
    February 13, 2013 7:16 am
    I find myself in agreement with you.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Nickatnyt wrote...
    Nice thought Chuck
    February 13, 2013 7:40 am
    But this kid's thoughts were in writing and he had personal access to deadly weapons, so for the sake of avoiding another Newtown, this kid needs to be dealt with in such a way that protects society from his murderous 'thoughts'. Besides that, please remind us who has said that thoughts should be criminalized?
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  • southi5 wrote...
    Well Nick
    February 13, 2013 8:27 am
    Since the kids thoughts were found in a recycling bin and he is now in custody without being charged with a crime, other than having a list, that was in the trash, it is safe to say he is being criminalized for his thoughts, unless you know something we dont and he actually committed a crime.
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  • Dizzle wrote...
    Chuck=right, but...
    February 13, 2013 12:01 pm
    What choice does a judge have these days? In the unlikely event that the kid ends up killing someone someday, the public--including fundamentalists--will want to crucify him for "ignoring the signs." Ditto, the principal.

    Everyone is being driven insane.

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • roomtemp wrote...
    @Chuck... FYI
    February 13, 2013 5:26 pm
    I agree with you. Thought must not be considered a crime. When someone starts 'making lists' however, thoughts are starting to turn into actions. Clearly, this kid needs a little guidance. Today he'll probably get a fistful of psychotropic drugs with labels warning of causing suicidal or aggressive thoughts and an army of social workers. His parents will enjoy paying fees for mandatory this and that, while jumping through the flaming hoops and climbing the oiled ropes of the system.

    "_what stops a 13 year old, a 10 year old, or even a 7 year old from running around in public with a loaded pistol?"

    Ultimately, nothing but one's own conscience will ever stop anyone, before the act, from doing anything. If you're referring to gun laws for children. We have them in place already.

    But, let me ask you this Chuck. When was the last time a law stopped you from doing something heinous? (I'm guessing, never.)

    FYI... Here's links to the relevant sections in the RCW.

    http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.41.040

    May not posses a gun -snip- "(iii) If the person is under eighteen years of age, except as provided in RCW 9.41.042; and/or"

    Permissible possession outlined here.

    http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.41.042

    Thought you might like to know those laws were there. They seem like reasonable laws to me. (Even if I probably didn't follow all of them myself, lol.) Fair winds, Chuck...

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  • Stevebo wrote...
    I agree with Chuck on this one too.
    February 13, 2013 7:53 am
    I'm all for gun rights and the 2nd ammendment.

    That being said, I agree that children should not have access to guns (at least handguns).

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  • shark75 wrote...
    Please define "had access to guns"
    February 13, 2013 7:54 am
    They have pictures with him handling guns. Who do they guns belong to? If they aren't his (which they probably aren't) then who's are they and would this individual (his dad?) allow him to just take the guns whenever he wanted? I think there is a lot of speculation here...
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  • southi5 wrote...
    Shark
    February 13, 2013 8:30 am
    I think there is a lot speculation here, more hyperbole. I don't see how they are holding this kid for a list he put in the recycling. Disturbing yes, criminal no, we can't incarcerate people for their thoughts, we do have to wait until they actually pull off a crime. If our police become mind readers there are a lot of us who are in big trouble.
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  • sportsguru wrote...
    What a great
    February 13, 2013 9:29 am
    Set of parents this kid has. I wouldn't let my kids go over to this kids house if they paid me. I just can't stand people who PLAY with guns. It's the stupidest thing that I have ever seen and I see more adults do it than kids. Guns are a tool, not a TOY to be played with. Fustrating
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  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Why dont you just post your real feelings
    February 13, 2013 10:24 am
    Guns are Scary
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  • sportsguru wrote...
    Rick W7PSK
    February 13, 2013 10:38 am

    Guns are Scary Rick. I know they are not scary to you, but I personally choose to respect the damage that a gun can inflict and take great care in only wanting to use a gun in a life or death situation.

    I personally don't feel a lethal weapon is something to be played with and more importantly something that I would allow my kid to play with, much less take photo's with one on his hip like some cowboy.

    To me it like playing chicken with a moving train with your car, but you know, I am just a little scary azz55 punk that don't know any better and you know what's right when it comes to firearms.

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  • Tyrone DeVille wrote...
    Someone Neuter This Punk !
    February 13, 2013 9:40 am
    !
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • xplanes wrote...
    to answer the question
    February 13, 2013 10:57 am
    shark75 wrote... Please define "had access to guns" I'll bet he filled out one of those "surveys" at school that asks if your parents have guns in the home. I don't think it's relevant what the parents have in the home. A kill list should be taken seriously with or without access to guns at home. Charged for thinking? No, but perhaps some required time in a safe place to figure out what's going on in his head. There are some permanently messed up girls from Snohomish High school because a sicko used a butcher knife. On second thought the attacker was getting help and the fraud of a Doctor said she was safe to attend public school. I guess all we can do is hope and pray our kids are safe.
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  • HLC wrote...
    Lets not forget the direction of our country.
    February 13, 2013 11:32 am
    In Obozos world if you are just planning to do something he doesn't agree with he can park a drone over your house and bring smoke upon your butt.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Lonestar wrote...
    Obama has a kill list and access to weapons
    February 13, 2013 11:49 am
    When is he going to be expelled and sent to juvey?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • bigdogina4x4 wrote...
    This photo was cropped....
    February 13, 2013 12:19 pm
    The original photo above, shows his dad standing just an arm's length away. This article and photo job make it sound like he was set loose with a handgun, but he was being supervised by an adult at this time.
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  • xplanes wrote...
    perhaps
    February 13, 2013 12:42 pm
    a reporter without a bias would have shown the photo in its entirety and just blurred the faces so as not to alter the context. That would of course require you to find a reporter without a bias. Good luck with that.
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  • TheNewsChick wrote...
    bigdogina4x4...you are not correct
    February 13, 2013 1:59 pm
    The photo was cropped vertically to protect his identity because he is a minor. It was not cropped horizontally. There is no one else shown in either photo of the boy. There is a bicycle and a tent in the background of the above photo. In photo 2 (not shown here) you can see two bicycles and the tent. His father might be taking the photo, which would put him at arms length and supervised by an adult. But no one's visible.

    xplanes wrote... perhaps you should base your comment on reporter bias on fact, rather than your own bias.

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  • xplanes wrote...
    Linda, are you serious???
    February 13, 2013 2:18 pm
    per·haps /pərˈ(h)aps/ Adverb Used to express uncertainty or possibility: "perhaps I should have been frank with him". Used when one does not wish to be too definite or assertive in the expression of an opinion. Synonyms maybe - possibly - perchance - probably A news article is supposed to present facts in an unbiased fashion. Editing, whether by inclusion or exclusion effects either the bias or appearance of bias in a story. I chose the word Perhaps on purpose. As an opinion writer I am not remotely attempting to report on a story factually or otherwise. If that photo was not cropped, but the face blurred to protect the identity, then we wouldn't even be talking about it now. That was sloppy editing that left the appearance of bias which I agreed with bigdogina4x4 that it looked fishy. I used the word perhaps and I stand by that choice. BTW, I'm still waiting for the article you promised me on the use of guns to protect lives. That was supposed to balance your one sided report on gun violence. If you want to prove me biased in my view of your reporting let's have that award winning report I'm sure you're still working on.
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  • TheNewsChick wrote...
    Editing for a reason...
    February 13, 2013 3:10 pm
    Have you seen the original photo? Nothing fishy, in fact you can Google it because other stations have identified him by name and photo. I wanted to protect his identity because he is a minor. Bias in favor of protecting a minor? Yes.

    Here's the interesting thing about about the 'guns saving lives' story. I've talked to several people who say without a weapon to protect themselves they wouldn't be alive today. None want to go on record, including a local NRA member who has an interesting story.

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  • Chrisfrommv wrote...
    Linda, I have to agree with Xplanes
    February 13, 2013 5:05 pm
    After being a reader on here for a while now I have found that most articles aon here, specially when it comes to the gun-control debate can be very bias. I admit when writing on an event a flat tone with only facts without controversy, spins, demographic targeting, or personal beliefs being reflected is extrodanarily hard to write and usually becomes a very dry story. Trigger words and basic NLP is hard to get away from, specially when you have your own opinion. However, it can do you a lot of good and give yourself a lot of credibility if you portion part of your story by playing devil's advocate with yourself. A gun benfit story, believe me there are plenty if you wanted to really look, or even a gun-nuetral story would suprize most of your readers. Can you muster up the courage to ask why you believe the way you believe, and what is the difference between that and the other POV.
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  • TheNewsChick wrote...
    As always...
    February 13, 2013 6:12 pm
    I appreciate the feedback Chrisfrommv and xplanes. You know I read every comment, and try to respond to any directed at me. I've said before I believe in the 2nd Amendment as much as I support the 1st.

    My email contact information is easy to find under the "submit a news tip" link. I'd encourage anyone to contact me with their story about how guns save lives. We do have a recent case of a homeowner who protected himself from a burglar. I know the stories are out there.

    As the mom of a 13 year old boy, I'm curious about this court hearing tomorrow in this case. Who's a threat? What's a threat?

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • roomtemp wrote...
    @TheNewsChick...
    February 13, 2013 8:11 pm
    Bear in mind that sometimes you are the victim of your own success in the comment section. You do more stories, and usually better ones, than anybody else on MYNW. I think most folks here see you as a diligent, fair minded, person. So, more is expected of you.

    As a listener/reader I appreciate that you read and take our comments into consideration. Thanks for that. That shows a lot of moxy imho. I also think it portends the future of media to a degree (interactivity). No one else on this site does that except perhaps David Boze.

    Personally, it doesn't matter to me whether a story has some bias in it. I see right through it anyway. As long as the facts are there so I can reach my own conclusions, it's all good. It seems unrealistic to expect a person with opinions to keep them all out of their media.

    I'm not crying foul on this story. But let's face it. The media in general has been on a non-stop gun fear-mongering crusade since the theater shooting. A lot of us are getting pretty tired of the one sided nature of their programming, erm, reporting. Again, that's not pointed at you. But I would encourage you to look at the bulk of what's out there and be different from the herd. To much news today is just an echo chamber for propaganda.

    PS... I like hearing you and Ross on the radio. Yeah, I know Ross is about as far away from me on the political spectrum as you can get. He makes me cringe a lot, but I can't help but like the guy anyway. TheNewsChick of course has always been a favorite. Be well... ;-)

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  • TheNewsChick wrote...
    roomtemp
    February 14, 2013 3:31 pm
    Thank you!
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  • Concerned US Citizen wrote...
    Kill lists ?
    February 13, 2013 4:13 pm
    Sort of just like our president's kill lists. Maybe this kid has a future in liberal politics. On a more serious note this child should stay locked up for a full mental evaluation and immediately be added to the unelegible to purchase a gun list at the FBI. If he is released back to his parents and they have the firearms shown in the pictures they must be removed from the home for safe keeping.
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