Claire City ‘Columbine Reprise’ Massacre Averted
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An 18-year-old Claire City man arrested and accused of having weapons and the makings for explosives wrote that he wanted to “cause as much chaos, death and destruction as possible and become the world’s most infamous sociopath for the rest of mankind, according to court documents.
Joseph Thomas Hansen would have been a senior at Sisseton High School in northeastern South Dakota. He was arrested Aug. 23 after authorities said they seized weapons, ammunition and components used in making explosives following a tip to a Sisseton Police Department school resource officer. He appeared in court Tuesday. Hansen allegedly told co-workers at a day care in Sisseton that he had enough fireworks to blow up Sisseton, and the first day of school would be a short one, according to the court affidavit. The comments were relayed to Casey Metz, the school resource officer. He said in the affidavit that officers have observed Hansen’s behaviors through the past two years. Last year, a computer teacher notified Metz that Hansen was caught looking up articles on the school computers regarding the Columbine massacre before the anniversary date.
In their search of Hansen’s home, law enforcement discovered writings that stated he wanted In their search of Hansen’s home, law enforcement discovered writings that stated he wanted to blow up Sisseton High School and execute any survivors. He also had a diagram of the school as well as a note detailing the lockdown policy of the school.
Also included in Hansen’s writings were notes regarding which law enforcement agencies would respond to a shooter and descriptions of the body armor, weapons and equipment of officers. Hansen noted the areas not covered in body armor. Other writings talked about killing family members and included a list of people he wished to torture and kill,
including 30 females he would kidnap, torture and rape.
He wrote he would like to use a bowie knife and “gut them like a pig.” A bowie knife was discovered in the search, as were numerous loaded weapons and fireworks.