A parent’s job is to protect their child no matter what—isn’t it? What happens when we are forced to choose between protecting those we love and protecting people from them?
It can feel like betrayal to turn in a family member or friend to the police, but ultimately, a lot of violent crimes have the potential to be stopped before they happen if those who are close to perpetrators are brave enough to speak up.
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One Washington state mother was recently faced with an impossible decision.
The mother who chose to only identify herself to The New York Post as ‘Nicole’ found a manifesto written by her 17-year-old son that detailed plans to commit a mass shooting at his high school.
Police reports state the teen planned on using a variety of ‘guns and explosives.’
The manifesto also detailed plans to kill himself “after committing maximum damage.”
When she confronted her son, he told her that the writings “were just a story.”
Another troubling aspect was that this shooting was supposed to take place on the anniversary of the massacre at Columbine High School.
The manifesto also seemed to suggest the boy intended to carry out his own rampage in a similar fashion to the infamous shooters.
Naturally, this discovery wasn’t something Nicole felt she could ignore.
So she confronted her son about what he had written only to be told that the writings “were just a story.”
Ultimately, Nicole decided to turn in the manifesto to the local authorities.
The teen has since been arrested on harassment and bomb threat charges.
“It’s devastating,” Nicole explained. “I know I did all I can do and that I made the right choice.”
College Place police chief Troy Tomaras isn’t buying the teen’s story.
“He’s plotting to attack and kill people,” he told CBS News. “That’s beyond creative writing. That’s beyond normal.”
The more police read these journals, the more unnerving the teen’s words became.
The entries went on to detail how the teen would “blast anyone in sight” and “kill everyone possible.”
Tomaras has spoken out about how important Nicole’s actions were.
“She’s very courageous,” he explained. “It’s clearly very emotional for her. She loves her son.”
I can’t imagine having to make a decision like that.
Ultimately, however, we have to do what we can live with.
So it’s understandable how even the difficult decision to turn one’s own family in to authorities would still feel easier to live with than standing at a memorial like this and wondering if they could’ve prevented a tragedy.
Tomaras also went on to explain how many violent crimes could be prevented if more people spoke up.
“If you see something, say something,” he said. “If something seems off, you’re probably right, and you could save a lot of people.”
h/t: New York Post , CBS News
