Crime

Police Suspect Columbine Copycat After Pipe Bomb, Propane Tanks Found at Col. Mall

Police Suspect Columbine Copycat After Pipe Bomb, Propane Tanks Found at Col. Mall

A picture of the suspect.

LITTLETON, Colo. (AP) — Investigators want to question a person of interest about a pipe bomb and propane tanks found after a fire at a Littleton mall, a discovery that raised the possibility of a connection to the Columbine massacre anniversary.

Firefighters found two propane tanks and the bomb near the Southwest Plaza Mall’s food court after a small fire broke out Wednesday that was quickly squelched. The mall was evacuated around noon. No one was injured and the bombs didn’t explode.

Wednesday was the 12th anniversary of the shooting rampage at nearby Columbine High School and officials expressed concern that the mall incident could be somehow linked.

“The fact that has happened on April 20, 12 years later, near the school and with similar devices is very disturbing,” Jefferson County sheriff’s spokeswoman Jacki Kelley said.

A possible connection to Columbine will be explored.

“It‘s something that can’t be ignored and won’t be ignored,” Kelley said.

The mall is about two miles from the school, where two student gunmen killed 13 people and themselves on April 20, 1999 in a rampage that stunned the nation.

Unexploded pipe bombs and a propane tank with explosives attached were found in the school after the shootings.

“If it’s kids, they’re crazy not to know what this means in this town,” Margie Hecht, who lives near the mall, told The Denver Post. “I remember that day and they wouldn’t think this is funny if they did.”

Through the years, students across the country have been accused of threats and incidents modeled after Columbine.

FBI spokesman Dave Joly said authorities have identified a person of interest seen on surveillance video entering a stairwell he said isn’t typically used by the public.

The man could be a witness or a suspect, Kelley said.

He is described as a white male with graying hair and a silver mustache. Photos taken from surveillance show him in a dark cap, gray and white striped shirt, dark jacket, blue jeans and dark shoes. He is seen entering a stairwell and carrying a white plastic bag.

Joly said it was too early to speculate whether the incident was an act of terrorism.

Sheriff’s officials said there are usually about 6,000 to 10,000 people in the mall around noon each day. Shoppers and about 300 mall employees left after the fire.

A daylong search didn’t turn up any other explosive devices in the mall, which was expected to be open for business Thursday.

About 25 schools were on lockout as a precaution, meaning access is restricted to one point, according to the Post. Classes had been canceled at Columbine High School in remembrance of those killed in the shootings.

Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold wounded several students and killed 12 and one teacher before shooting themselves.

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Editors: People with information about the man on the video or the incident call the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 303-271-5616.

Comments (17)

  • v12tommy
    Posted on April 22, 2011 at 1:55am

    That mall is only a few blocks from Colombine High School. Scary stuff. I used to live very close, but now am about 20 miles away. Still to close for comfort. Way too many crazies out there these days.

    Report Post » v12tommy  
  • 60yroldfemale
    Posted on April 21, 2011 at 3:05pm

    How things have gotten to the point that evil behavior is acceptable I just don’t understand.
    I live not very far from a gruesome murder of a fifteen year old by other teenagers. On Sunday last they conspired to kill him and from what is coming out, he took a lot of killing. Then the stepfather of two of the teenagers got involved in helping to dispose of the body, this man worked at the local grocery store as a meat cutter.
    How do young people get to the point where this kind of behavior is not abnormal?
    Six lives have been ruined over a teenage love gone wrong.
    It seems like the idea of the preciousness of life is just missing and the idea of death is not real to these young people.

    Report Post »  
  • Southernguy
    Posted on April 21, 2011 at 10:33am

    They should tape them pipe bombs to his crotch and set em’ off ;)

    Report Post » Southernguy  
  • NOBELSPORT
    Posted on April 21, 2011 at 10:06am

    Copy Cat????? Wouldnt that need to be a school and twisted misguided kids shooting people.
    This is a terrible event…but copy cat is a stretch

    Report Post »  
  • Taxpayer550
    Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:39am

    Another near miss like the one in Oaklyn, New Jersey from a few years back.

    Report Post » Taxpayer550  
  • Ironeagle
    Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:00am

    Colorado is becoming more and more like California, or is it the other way around? After ruining California, an influx of progressives brought their wicked ways with them from California to Colorado in the 90′s and started putting the state on the path to destruction. Colorado needs to change its name to Calorado. Locusts, freakin locusts.

    Report Post » Ironeagle  
  • RED-DAWN
    Posted on April 21, 2011 at 8:56am

    Well, thanks to Janet, we all now know “If you see something, Say Something”! That should make everyone feel better…

    Like we would have kept our mouth(s) shut if we saw something? But now, we can make that call with the blessings of the administration. I have an idea, how about we challenge the guy and if necessary, pop a cap in his a$$. Oh, I forgot, that’s old fashion!

    Report Post »  
  • thegreatcarnac
    Posted on April 21, 2011 at 8:55am

    This could be a terrorist which is using the dates of the Columbine disaster as cover. Law enforcement would make the connection and be slightly thrown off from the real culprits. Then again….

    Report Post »  
    • Mustangrider
      Posted on April 21, 2011 at 9:17am

      Agreed Carnac, there is just too much coincidence of so called copycat of all these anniversaries. I’m not buying it and I think the picture is becoming more clear who the real culprits are.

      Report Post »  
  • RepubliCorp
    Posted on April 21, 2011 at 8:23am

    Union Thugs with marching orders from Obama

    Report Post » RepubliCorp  
  • kickagrandma
    Posted on April 21, 2011 at 7:58am

    What we would all give for journalists who lived up to that name, ones with integrity and grit, who would get after all these stories. Are our youth all corrupted? brain dead? turned against AMERICA?

    JESUS GOD, we need a major miracle down here, or even many major miracles. Thank YOU, LORD, for hearing the please of our hearts. In JESUS’ PRECIOUS name, amen!

    Report Post »  
  • Fina Biscotti
    Posted on April 21, 2011 at 7:40am

    Whatever happened to the investigation in HOUSTON – of the “environmentalists” – who set off a pipe bomb in a “gift” – delivered to an oil industry executive’s house –

    soon after Obama halted oil drilling – under False Pretenses – by having Ken Salazar as the Secretary of the Dept of Interior FALSIFY the report by the panel of experts – as Salazar’s criminal conspiracy in a COVER-UP to Obama’s unconstitutional – hostile government takeover of another US industry = oil drilling -

    after his political contributors British Petroleum blew up the Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico – and “suspiciously” sunk the Oil Rig – that caused a Massive Oil Spew – that Obama failed to act upon from DAY ONE – refused to rescind The Jones Act – to appease the UNIONS – failing to call a State of Emergency – refusing all offers from Seventeen different countries with the proper equipment, knowledge and expertise to prevent the Massive Oil Spew from becoming an environmental disaster – for Obama to appease the UNIONS – to create a make-work project for UNIONS and PRISONERS – Obama allowing the Massive Oil spew to become the worst environmental disaster in US history – spewing OIL for close to Ninety days = 200 MILLION barrels – to cause as much damage as possible so that he could force his radical agenda of Cap & Trade legislation upon America – commanding that he wants cleaner alternative energy sources for better living – while he allowed the use of the dangerous and toxic dispersant COREXIT – that KILLED EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH – destroying marshes, wetlands, wildlife, seafood industry and FOOD SOURCES – and provided the opportunity for his political contributors British Petroleum to keep the Oil below the surface – to conceal the amount of the Oil Spillage – and to conceal the amount of damages – to our country – and the Gulf Coast states – through his intended Acts of ECO-TERRORISM and ACTS of POLITICAL TERRORISM.

    So what happened to the investigation of the PIPE BOMB in HOUSTON – at the home of an oil industry executive – left on his doorstep as a “gift” – that killed his wife?

    Did this oil industry executive have information on the intentional shoddy operations of British Petroleum – that was being accommodated by the Obama administration at the Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico?

    Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on April 21, 2011 at 7:32am

    God above here we go again with more sick minds and the copycats after them.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
  • Affirmative Blaction
    Posted on April 21, 2011 at 7:28am

    So whats up these dates, hitlars birthday, columbine, BPspill, now this.

    Report Post » Affirmative Blaction  
    • RedPillPatriot
      Posted on April 21, 2011 at 4:43pm

      You guys are missing the point here. There is a total lack of security in all public places, they are all (or most) gun free zones. These places are all a terrorists wet dream. It’s only a matter of time. It will take several more terrorist attacks before we awaken! Look at Virginia Tech, they are still a gun free zone! How many more shootings will it take before they allow law abiding Americans to excersise their 2nd amendment rights and defend themselves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post » RedPillPatriot  

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