FBI reports it stopped planned mass shooting at Oregon mall

The FBI announced Thursday that the agency foiled an “imminent” planned mass shooting attack at the Three Rivers Mall in Kelso, taking the suspected would-be attacker into custody on May 22. Officials described the suspect as a juvenile and a teen, later confirming that he is 14 years old.

Officials from the FBI and local law enforcement agencies, speaking at a news conference at the Portland field office, said the suspect appeared to have been planning the attack since earlier this year and had made detailed preparations, including planning a route through the mall for the shooting.

Doug Olson, special agent in charge with the FBI, said the suspect planned to detonate an improvised “chlorine bomb” explosive device to cause panic, then shoot patrons as they exited the mall or a movie theater within the mall, before finally dying by suicide. The suicide location was mapped out as part of the plan.

Read more: KGW (Portland, OR)