Tampa High School Bomb Threat Boy in Court

A Florida 17-year-old has been charged with plotting to kill school officials and students with bombs.

Police this week thwarted a “catastrophic event the likes of which Tampa has not seen,” Chief Jane Castor said at a news conference midday Wednesday, writes John Barry, Alexandra Zayas and Jodie Tillman at Tampabay.com.

17-year old, Jared Cano, who was expelled last year from Freedom High School, buried his face in his lap until he was called before the judge. Charged with possessing bombmaking materials; threatening to throw, project or discharge a destructive device; cultivating marijuana and possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Police got the anonymous tip at 11:50 a.m. Tuesday: An expelled Freedom student was planning to discharge explosives at the school in Tampa Palms. They said he had specific plans for violence next Tuesday, the first day of school, targeting two faculty members and any nearby students.

Officers found materials to construct pipe bombs: a fuel source, shrapnel, plastic tubing and timing and fusing devices at his home. They also found a journal with a minute-by-minute plan and “disturbing statements” about his intent to kill.

Jared Cano wrote a manifesto that detailed his plans for an attack starting at 5 a.m. next Tuesday, the first day of classes at Freedom High School in Tampa, Fla, writes Kevin Dolak and Reshma Kippalani at ABC News.

“He wouldn’t go and do something like that. He’d say he’s going to in the heat of the moment but that’s his way of venting, I guess,” Cano’s friend told ABC Action News in Tampa. “I think he was just venting anger on a piece of paper.”

Cano’s friend says that he does believe that his friend could have written a manifesto detailing such a plan to kill dozens at his former school, but it would only be a way for Cano to vent his frustration and anger.

“He doesn’t know how to vent,” the friend told ABC Action News. “I told him, ‘Dude, go in your room, scream in your pillow or something.’”

He was in 10th grade at Freedom in January 2010 when he told police he got bad grades because he does not pay attention. He said he had been diagnosed with attention deficit disorder but was not taking medication.

In March 2010, Cano was expelled. His principal didn’t disclose the reason but said it related to a police matter.

Police think Cano, who they said is now home schooled, was acting alone.

He will return to court on Sept. 2 for an arraignment.