Pennsylvania man accused of planning high school shooting around this month’s Columbine anniversary

Police in Pennsylvania have arrested a 20-year-old man accused of plotting a mass shooting at a high school later this month, one day after the anniversary of the Columbine massacre.

Braeden Phillips is accused of conspiring with another individual “to commit murder(s) by planning a coordinated school shooting on April 21, 2025, at the State College High School,” according to a criminal complaint obtained by CNN.

Police say the suspect, a former State College resident, also planned to place bombs inside the school’s bathrooms and that he and another individual had compiled a “hit list” of people to target. The attack was planned for 8:40 a.m., a high traffic time at the school, according to the complaint.

Staff at a youth community center in State College called police after learning of the threat from one of the center’s residents, according to a probable cause affidavit. That initial report led to interviews with others who told police the suspect had discussed the planned attack with them, the affidavit says.

Read more: CNN