A West Texas man whom investigators said was planning a mass shooting has been charged with making false statements to a firearms dealer.
Federal agents arrested 19-year-old William Patrick Williams on Thursday after his discharge from a hospital.
According to a criminal complaint, the Lubbock man had told his grandmother that he'd bought an AK-47 rifle recently, planned to "shoot up" a local hotel, then force police to kill him.
Sensing that her grandson was both suicidal and homicidal, the woman persuaded him to be hospitalized instead.
He's accused of giving the gun dealer an outdated address.
During a search of Williams' hotel room, agents found the rifle, 17 ammunition-filled magazines, knives, tactical gloves and black clothing.
No attorney is listed on his jail record.
cartographer721 on August 4th, 2019 at 19:59 UTC »
"Grandma I'm going to commit mass homicide then suicide"
"sensing her grandson was both homicidal and suicidal..."
Tidepod_chef on August 4th, 2019 at 17:08 UTC »
Props to Grandma and her persuasion skills, saved lives there. Also wondering how someone gets named William Williams.
edit: here are some links for those who want to donate to help the El Paso victims:
https://pdnfoundation.org/give-to-a-fund/health-leadership-fund?BBFund=24&BBHideOtherFunds=1
https://payments.epcf.org/victims
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/08/04/el-paso-shooting-how-help-texas-residents-after-walmart-rampage/1914826001/
frodosdream on August 4th, 2019 at 17:03 UTC »
Federal agents arrested 19-year-old William Patrick Williams on Thursday after his discharge from a hospital. According to a criminal complaint, the Lubbock man had told his grandmother that he'd bought an AK-47 rifle recently, planned to "shoot up" a local hotel, then force police to kill him. Sensing that her grandson was both suicidal and homicidal, the woman persuaded him to be hospitalized instead.
This appears to be a case of serious mental illness that was reached in time to prevent tragedy.