An Tso Sun came to the U.S. from Taiwan five months ago to attend school, but he was arrested Tuesday after police say he threatened to “shoot up” his school and was stockpiling weapons in his bedroom.
Sun was charged with making a terroristic threat for telling a classmate not to come to school on May 1 because he was “going to shoot up the school,” CBS Philly reported.
Sun later told the classmate it was a joke, his attorney and police both said, The Washington Post reported. Sun also reportedly brought a high-caliber bullet to school and showed a classmate a video of himself operating a flamethrower.
Police also said Sun used a school iPad to research AK-47 and AR-15 rifles as well as how to buy weapons, and that he had military-style items in his bedroom. Sun did not have a gun, but did have a crossbow, tactical vest, high-caliber ammunition, and a kit to make a homemade gun, CBS Philly reported.
Sun’s lawyer Enrique Latoison argued the entire case was a misunderstanding, and that Sun was interested in military items and weapons because he wanted to major in criminal justice after high school. He has already been accepted to college, the Post reported.
“He didn’t grow up in the Columbine generation,” Latoison told the Post. “He’s only been here five months. He doesn’t get it like we get it. He’s not being bullied; he’s not mad at anybody. He was just thinking he’s being funny. And he wasn’t.”
“It looks bad,” Latoison went on. “I know why it looks bad ... and unfortunately he won’t get a fair shake because of the climate we’re in.”
Sun’s host mother Valerie Hibbert refused to comment on the situation because she considers him her son, CBS News reported.
The 18-year-old is being held on $100,000 bail and his next court hearing is April 11.
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