(LibertySociety.com) – FBI agents stopped a Columbia County teenager’s deadly plot to bomb and shoot up Three Rivers Mall in Kelso, Washington, thanks to a tip that allowed authorities to arrest the suspect days before the planned attack.
At a Glance
- An Oregon teenager was arrested on May 22 after the FBI uncovered detailed plans for a mass shooting and bombing at Three Rivers Mall in Kelso, Washington
- The teen had mapped out the mall, planned an escape route, and intended to use a homemade chlorine bomb before shooting moviegoers and other patrons
- Law enforcement seized three handguns, ammunition, four knives, and five digital devices from the suspect’s residence
- The suspect had pledged allegiance to online nihilistic, violent extremist groups and posted detailed attack plans online on May 17
- The Columbia County District Attorney’s Office is determining whether to charge the juvenile as an adult
Swift Action Prevents Tragedy
Federal agents and local law enforcement successfully thwarted what could have been a devastating attack at a Washington state shopping mall. The FBI Portland division, working with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office, arrested a juvenile suspect on May 22, 2025, just days after receiving a tip about the planned violence. The investigation revealed the Oregon teenager had been methodically planning the attack since early 2025, with a detailed strategy for maximizing casualties at the Three Rivers Mall in Kelso.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson emphasized the gravity of the situation during a press conference: “This plot was as serious as it gets. We, along with our partners, moved swiftly to interrupt this violent plan and to protect our community.”
The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed due to his age, allegedly planned to detonate a chlorine bomb to create chaos and panic before shooting fleeing patrons exiting a movie theater, the FBI Portland Field Office said in a statement. https://t.co/IORwVV1APS
— WSIL News (@WSILNews) June 7, 2025
Detailed Planning and Extremist Ties
The FBI’s investigation uncovered disturbing evidence of the teenager’s methodical preparation. The suspect had created a comprehensive attack plan, including mall schematics, a designated route through the building, and strategies for using an improvised chlorine bomb to create panic before opening fire on fleeing victims. Special attention was given to targeting moviegoers, with the plan culminating in the teenager’s intended suicide at a specific location within the mall.
“The suspect pledged allegiance to several online nihilistic, violent extremist groups and ideologies,” stated Douglas A. Olson, referencing materials found during the investigation that linked the teen to dangerous online communities.
When FBI Portland SWAT agents “made contact with the subject at their residence,” they discovered a troubling arsenal. Authorities seized three handguns, ammunition, four knives, five digital devices, and specialized clothing intended for the assault. The teen had posted detailed plans online on May 17, just two days before the FBI received the critical tip that led to the investigation.
Legal Proceedings and Community Safety
The suspect, identified only “as a juvenile Columbia County resident,” is currently in custody as the Columbia County District Attorney’s Office determines the appropriate charges. While juvenile court proceedings are the standard approach in such cases, authorities are considering whether to pursue adult charges given the severity and sophisticated nature of the plot.
This incident follows a similar case in Bend, Oregon, where law enforcement recently arrested another individual for threatening a mass shooting. The FBI has emphasized the crucial role that community vigilance played in preventing both potential tragedies. While authorities have not disclosed the specific source of the tip in the Kelso mall case, they highlighted the importance of the public reporting suspicious activities.
The case demonstrates the ongoing threat of ideologically motivated violence and the effectiveness of interagency cooperation. The rapid information sharing between federal and local law enforcement created a coordinated response that potentially saved numerous lives. Officials urge citizens to remain alert and report concerning behavior to appropriate authorities.
Copyright 2025, LibertySociety.com
Click this link for the original source of this article.
Author: Editor
This content is courtesy of, and owned and copyrighted by, https://libertysociety.com and its author. This content is made available by use of the public RSS feed offered by the host site and is used for educational purposes only. If you are the author or represent the host site and would like this content removed now and in the future, please contact USSANews.com using the email address in the Contact page found in the website menu.
