Maryland mall shooter had Columbine obsession

Darion Aguilar, the gunman who killed two people apparently at random at a Maryland mall in January, was obsessed with the shooting a Columbine High School, police said.

Augilar, 19, killed two employees at Zumiez, a skateboard shop, at 11:15 a.m. on January 25 at the Mall in Columbia before taking his own life.

Howard County Police Chief William McMahon pointed out Wednesday the Columbine attack had begun at 11:14 a.m. on April 20, 1999.

Aguilar also took a picture of himself in the dressing room of Zumiez, McMahon said, wearing cargo pants and boots similar to one of the Columbine shooters. He posted the photo to Tumblr minutes before the shooting with the caption:

I had to do this. Today is the day. On previous days I tried this I woke up with anxiety, regret and hope for a better future this day I didn't, I work up felt no emotions no empathy no sympathy. I will have freedom or maybe not. I could care less."

Police are not releasing the photo because of the similarity to the Columbine dresser, McMahon said.

"We believe he took it in an effort to gain notoriety, that he intended for us to find it and that we would display it in a public setting to bring him fame and notoriety," he said. "We're not going to honor that intention."

Police also found searches for explosives, guns and gun stores, mental health issues and suicide chat lines on Aguilar's computer. His journal also included writings about suicide, feelings of emptiness and sadness, and that he had contemplated death and killing, McMahon said.

"I'm going to [expletive] kill you all in a couple hours I'm anxious, I hate you all so much you are pathetic pieces of [expletive] who deserve to die. Worthless you all are [expletive] worthless. Everything seems fake. I think that I may already be dead," one entry said, according to police.

Aguilar visited a doctor in April 2013 and said he was hearing voices. He was referred to a psychiatrist, but it appears he was never evaluated by a mental health professional.

Police said they have found no connection between Aguilar and the victims, Biranna Benlolo, 21, of College Park, and Tyler Johnson, 25, of Mount Airy.

[CBS News]