3 students, 13, allegedly plotted shooting

DELAND, Fla., March 17 (UPI) -- Authorities in Florida allege three 13-year-old students tried to obtain rifles for a shooting spree they conspired to carry out at their school.

An arrest affidavit filed in court in DeLand, Fla., said Austin Mohr, Tyler Christian and Charlene Russell, all students at DeLand Middle School, planned to kill at least two specific students before turning their weapons on themselves, WKMG-TV in Orlando, Fla., reported Monday.

The teens, who were each charged Friday with conspiracy to commit murder, allegedly sought to obtain hunting rifles from friends.

Authorities said the Columbine-style plot was uncovered after one of the students told a relative of a classmate using an instant messenger program on the Internet.

Charlene Russell's mother, Ruth, admitted her daughter had been diagnosed with oppositional defiance disorder and a conduct disorder, but she said Charlene would not have engaged in any violent behavior.

"She's never had a gun in her hand," Russell said. "She doesn't have a way to get a gun. She never could have done this."