A Florida college student was planning to commit a mass shooting on the last day of the semester when he was caught with a collapsible rifle and at least 300 rounds of ammunition Thursday.
Officers believe 19-year-old John Hagins was on his way to practice at a gun range before carrying out the “Columbine-style” mass shooting at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where he was enrolled.
“Once we detained him, we immediately noticed that he had this backpack,” Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young said.
“You can see there’s a magazine that he had in this backpack. Contained inside the backpack was a collapsible rifle.”
The Police Chief added that Hagins told friends on Snapchat about his plans for the day before they alerted police.
“Today is the last day before winter break. Today is the last day, today is finals, final exams so this was all a part of the plan because today the campus will be packed because everybody has to be there to take their final exam so this was all in his plan.”
