Indiana Teen's School Shooting Plot Foiled After Friend Alerts FBI, Now Faces Consequences

A 19-year-old from Indiana who plotted a mass shooting at a local high school in February has been sentenced to prison. Trinity Shockley received a 20-year term, with eight years suspended, after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit murder. Following her prison term, she will serve five years of probation.

During her court appearance, Shockley became emotional and expressed remorse to her intended target and the community, stating, I am so sorry I put you in that position of fear." She also noted improvements in her mental well-being, saying, "Its gotten a lot better since Ive been surrounded by people that care about me."

Shockley's arrest came after a tip to the FBIs Sandy Hook hotline from a friend, who reported that the 12th-grade student planned to carry out a mass shooting at Mooresville High School on February 14. The informant mentioned that Shockley had access to an AR-15 and had recently acquired a bulletproof vest, adding that she admired Nikolas Cruz, the perpetrator of the 2018 Parkland school shooting.

Shockley had previously described herself as a victim of bullying. Her lawyer, Joseph Gaunt, emphasized that she never intended to act on the plan, saying, "She knew she couldnt do it, but she kept talking about it. Thats what makes this case hard."

Morgan County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Cassie Mellady commented that the sentence was appropriate given the extensive planning involved, aiming to align the plea agreement with the seriousness of the plot.

After the sentencing, the FBI's Indianapolis office highlighted the importance of public vigilance, stating that the case serves as a "powerful reminder that when the public speaks up, lives can be saved."

Author: Sophia Brooks