When Your Son's a Potential School Shooter

When Your Son's a Potential School Shooter

Monday, April 21, 2008

Would you turn in your own child? These two Moms did.

Over the weekend, 16-year-old Ryan Schallenberger's parents turned him in to the police after 10 pounds of ammonium nitrate were delivered to their home. Police said they also discovered a disturbing journal outlining his plans.

Mom•Logic spoke with another Mom who turned in her adopted son for planning a school shooting. In order to protect her identity, her name is being withheld.

Momlogic: What were the warning signs that your son had destructive tendencies?

My son would start fires in our house. He would hurt and kill animals, sometimes choking or drowning them. I couldn't leave him in a room alone with my younger daughter because he would hurt her.

Momlogic: What evidence showed you that he was planning an attack?

Momlogic: What did you do?

The first time I notified his case worker, who then notified the school. After a meeting at the high school, I sat my son down and asked if he would be willing to go to a psychiatric hospital. He agreed that it was what he needed to do. He spent 16 months spread over three different hospitals.

Momlogic: Your son also planned to harm multiple individuals while he was in college?

We did later enroll him in state college. On his birthday, he told four different individuals that he was planning a shooting. These individuals notified the police department and the college. They said that it was a subversive threat and there was nothing they could do.

Momlogic: What is your message for other moms?

You have to acknowledge the signs. Seek counseling and find someone who will listen. What is really important is to do the right thing and turn your child in, rather than not and have your child possibly hurt other people or himself.

Would you turn your kid in?

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6 comments so far | Post a comment now >>

While I’m REALLY glad this mother spoke up, I gotta wonder WHY and HOW her son became such an angry, violent person?

- H.M.

Posted 04/21/08 02:43 PM

I’m also glad that this woman turned her son in. As difficult as that has to be, I really think that turning a blind eye to those signs are not going to help your child get better. Kudos to her for doing the right thing.

- EC

Posted 04/21/08 02:59 PM

It’s really, really scary. I could never turn my son in to the police though. I would get him psychiatric help but never turn him over to authorities.

- Anonymous

Posted 04/21/08 03:08 PM

he was 18

- Anonymous

Posted 04/21/08 04:48 PM

Sometimes doing the RIGHT thing is the hardest thing to do. I would rather turn my child into the autorities than risk them killing themselves or others. What if they killed the others & not themselves - How could anyone live with that? Including the parents of the child that did it!!!

- ES

Posted 04/22/08 12:16 PM

I think the mom definatly did the right thing. If she knew that he was planning something, and the police found out after the fact she would have charges brought against her. I’m sure it’s very difficult to turn your child in, but sweeping things under the rug is no answer.

- Lesley

Posted 04/22/08 04:53 PM