A teenager from Clatskanie, Oregon, has been sentenced to probation and mental health treatment for plotting a mass shooting at the Three Rivers Mall in Kelso, Washington. The 17-year-old, whose name was not released due to being a minor, pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit murder and malicious harassment, a hate crime, in Cowlitz County Superior Court.
According to court documents, the teen, who was 16 at the time of his arrest in February 2025, had detailed plans to carry out an attack at the mall. Investigators found evidence including a specific list of firearms and tactical gear he intended to acquire. The plot was uncovered by the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force after the teen communicated his plans online.
During the sentencing, the judge emphasized rehabilitation, ordering the teen to serve probation until he turns 21. The sentence includes mandatory mental health and substance abuse treatment, a ban on accessing violent online forums, and the completion of his high school education. The court found that the teen had been influenced by online extremist ideologies.
Cowlitz County prosecutors stated the sentence balances public safety with the opportunity for the juvenile offender to reform. The case highlights ongoing concerns about online radicalization and threats of violence targeting public spaces.
