Missouri Man Charged With Plotting ‘Twilight’ Theater Shooting
A 20-year-old Missouri man has been arrested and charged with plotting a movie theater shooting this weekend at a screening of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part Two, which opened today, the Springfield News-Leader reports. Blaec Lammers has been charged with first-degree assault, making a terroristic threat and armed criminal action after his mother called authorities with concerns that her son had purchased firearms and was plotting a similar movie theater shooting to the Aurora, Colorado massacre in July during the opening night of The Dark Knight Rises.
Police apprehended Lammers in Bolivar, Missouri, and interviewed him. He admitted to purchasing two assault rifles “for hunting,” then said he had bought two tickets to a Sunday showing of Breaking Dawn Part Two and acquired the guns with the intent to shoot people while at the movie.
“Blaec Lammers stated that he had a lot in common with the people that have been involved in those shootings,” read the probable cause statement that led to his arrest. “Blaec Lammers stated that he was quiet, kind of a loner, had recently purchased firearms and didn’t tell anybody about it, and had homicidal thoughts.” Lammers also said he had purchased 400 rounds of ammunition and was “thinking about” shooting people at a local Walmart because the store sells ammunition, making supplies more convenient. He had recently practiced shooting on Tuesday but said he had never before shot a gun and that he was currently off an unspecified medication. The statement also referred to a 2009 incident in which Lammers had admitted he wanted to stab a Walmart employee to death and went to the store to follow an employee before being contacted by police. Bolivar City Administrator Darin Chappell said police believe Lammers was working alone.