A former student of a Tampa high school was arrested Tuesday night, accused of plotting to blow up the school on the first day of class.
17-year-old Jared Cano was taken into custody after law enforcement received a tip about a possible plan by Cano to set off explosives at Freedom High School, the Palm Beach Post reports. He faces several charges, including possessing bomb making materials, the Palm Beach Post reports.
Police uncovered a set of materials supporting the belief that Cano was planning an attack, after his mother consented to a search of their home. Investigators found fuel, plastic tubing, shrapnel and timing and fusing devices. Members of the Tampa Regional Bomb Team said that the quantity of materials seized was capable of taking multiple lives.
Detectives also seized a minute-by-minute plan, along with schematic drawings of rooms in the Freedom High School and statements of Cano’s intent to kill students and specific administrators. Cano was also found to be cultivating marijuana in his room, investigators said.
There are media reports that Cano has multiple juvenile arrests, including for burglary, carrying a concealed weapon and drug possession, but these were either dismissed or no action had been taken.
Cano was transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center without incident.
