Friends of a Taiwanese exchange students arrested on accusations of threatening to shoot up the private high school in Pennsylvania expressed surprise about the charges.
An Tso Sun allegedly warned a fellow student at Bonner Prendergast Catholic High School not to come to school May 1 because he “was going to shoot up the school,” reported ABC News.
“He was an extremely simple and kind student, yet he would often have unusual ideas,”Sun’s tutor Cheng Wei-ting said to NBC Philadelphia.
A family friend said Sun wants to be a criminologist and idolized famed Taiwanese American forensics scientist Lee Chang-yu.
“He planned to study in the same fields as Lee, such as criminal psychology and forensics,” Tuo Zong-kang said.
Defense Attorney Enrique Latoison said that his client had no intention to shoot up the school and said he was “just kidding.”
Police said Sun had numerous items in his home including a military-style ballistic vest; high-powered crossbow with scope and light; arrows; 29 rounds of 9mm ammunition; a strangling device; a “military” ski mask; and ear protectors for firing, according to ABC.
Sun is being held on $100,000 bail. His next hearing is scheduled for April 11.
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RE: Attorney for Exchange Student Accused of threatening to Shoot Up School says Client “Just Kidding”: Possible that the kid also watches violent video games?