SEATTLE -- Two fifth-grade boys are in custody in Washington state after they brought a knife and gun to school with the goal of killing a schoolmate in a foiled murder plot that shocked their rural town because of their youth, prosecutors said on Friday.
The boys, accused of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder despite their tender ages of 10 and 11, also planned to harm other students by luring them away one at a time, said Tim Rasmussen, a Stevens County prosecuting attorney.
The boys are due in court next week, where a judge will determine if they had the mental capacity to carry out the attack and if they can be prosecuted in juvenile court, which in Washington is typically reserved for older defendants between ages 12 and 18.
Prosecutors said the boys had boarded a school bus on their way to an elementary school in Colville, a city of 4,600 residents in the far northeast part of the state, with the 11-year-old in possession of a knife and the 10-year-old with a functional Remington Model 1911 semi-automatic handgun.
But a fourth-grade student riding the bus saw the knife and reported it to a teacher's aide, prosecutors said. School officials found the weapons before anyone was hurt, and the two boys were arrested. They are in a juvenile detention facility.
The boys sought to lure the girl away from school, where the older boy planned to stab her, prosecutors said.
"I was going to kill her with the knife and (the younger boy) was supposed to use the gun to keep anyone from trying to stop me or mess up our plan," the older boy told police, according to the declaration of probable cause filed in court.
They intended to kill the girl because "she's rude and always made fun of me and my friends," the younger boy told investigators, according to the documents.
Attorneys for the boys declined to comment.
One of the boys had taken the gun, which originally belonged to his grandfather, from an older brother's room, according to a declaration of probable cause.
The boys also bribed another student with $80 to dissuade him from revealing what he knew about the plot, Rasmussen said.
In addition to the murder conspiracy, the 10-year-old boy faces charges of being in possession of a firearm and tampering with a witness.
The 11-year-old faces charges of murder conspiracy, juvenile firearm possession conspiracy and tampering with a witness.
If they are convicted of all the charges they could be sentenced to over three years in a juvenile treatment facility.
Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters. Click for restrictions.

Another GREAT NRA Grandfather - LePu and his followers - We know how to control our guns , we are the good people-YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS TO TELL US ANYTHING- THE GUN WAS JUST LAYING THERE -IT DID NOTHING WRONG.
We want MORE GRANDFATHERS to Purchase guns and give them out to the little kids- They must learn that they have RIGHTS to do whatever they want- no mater who gets hurt- IT IS THEIR RIGHTS.
In a live debate we could roll our eyes and offer you a hanky
The gun was stolen from the DEAD GRANDFATHER'S house by the older brother.
But good rant on DEAD GRANDFATHERS!
Hilarious.
This is another good reason for gun control !!! I am not taking about taking away anyones guns. You have to take a test to get a drivers license. Everyone shoould have to learn better gun safety. Leaving guns around where kids can get to them is not safe. I know it is not the total answer, but if it saves a few lives it is worth it.
Is the ability to drive a car protected by the constitution? The NRA teaches gun safety across the U.S. but you lefty types don't want to hear that. Everytime someone that is pro gun uses an automobile in an aurgument lefties scream its not the same, so keep cars out of it. Ask your leader the Red Wigged Fat One and the rest of her minions for a new topic.
Lesson #43 Don't leave guns out where kids can get them. Lesson # 3 Don't let your feelings rule you
These two boys are the product of religious conservative upbringings. Can there be any doubt about that?
@some sanity
That has to be it, religious conservative upbringings have really dumbed down the population. Hence the low informed GOP base people. There is NO DOUBT ABOUT THAT!
"That has to be it, religious conservative upbringings have really dumbed down the population"
SallyAnn and some sanity - since neither one of you appears to be too bright, what's your excuse?
@grilledcheese, my excuse? Probably reading too many of your comments, and comments from other low informed conservatives. It's enough to realize you aren't the brightest bulb in the chandlier. So back at you, what's your excuse? Dropped on your head when you was little? Seems like that happens a lot to the low informed conservatives.
@grilledcheesesandwich - That's a dumb question. Why am I not surprised?
I mean how dare a "girl" speak to them without the proper subservience.
Nurture versus nature--one little monster sounds as if he needs major, major intervention while the other one a good lock-step follower.
I didn't know being rude and teasing/making fun of someone warranted a death sentence along with 6 other classmates.
Wonder if the ring-leader's home life is just mirrored in attitude and problem solving solutions in the family--have to wonder. Older brother stealing from his Grandfather--great instilled moral compass there.
I agree with gun rights advocates. The American people should be able to own as many weapons as they want. Afterall, it says we Americans have a right to bear arms in our United States Constitution. However, if one of the weapons a person owns is supposedly "stolen" from them and subsequently used by a criminal to commit a crime, then the owner of said weapon should be punished with a steep fine and/or jail time. Believe me. If did so, then an eleven year old boy would find it much more difficult to acquire a gun. If we did so, then people who are in the business of buying guns for resale to criminal would face the possibility of jail time.
If someone steals your kitchen knife a kills someone should you be held liable?
I can see how the girls actions may upset someone, of course this is only based on what the boys claim. When I was in 5th grade 35 years ago a girl used to pick on me all the time and even punched me I just stayed away from and ignored her and eventually she stopped. I never even dreamed of touching her because my parents would of spanked me. The boys should have told someone since in today's age any form of bullying is not permissible( this is only based on their claims mind you). The boys parents are to blame for the way the raised and discipline their children and "IF" the girl did pick on them(most likely because she liked them and that's how little kids show it) then her parents failed as well in bringing her up. It's sad that violence in any form is the first response that some children and adults resort to anymore.
Parents:
If you want to get your children away from the bullies, nasty cliques, and violence you find in public school,
send them to Catholic school. You don't have to be Catholic. That is what we are doing.
So if another kid bullies my kid it is my kid who should change, leaving behind all friends? Surely it's not the bully's fault...
NRA solution: if your kid is a bully, make sure to give him/her a gun to carry to school so that they can defend themselves from the retaliation of all their victims...
Did your mother have any children who had a brain???
lots of things wrong here. the one kid had access to a gun. one 11 year old was allowed to buy a knife. a girl bullying in school. adults who knew nothing was going on. lucky that there were two people alert enough to stop a serious tragedy from unfolding. the two boys definitely need to go to juvenile detention. the rest need to learn a lesson about communication.
Nice parents.
I just don't understand how 11 and 12 yr old boys get it into their head that the only "solution" to an alleged personal conflict with another human being is to murder that person.
There is someting dreadfully wrong with these two boys.
Movies, TV, Video games, the NRA. Our society glorifies gun violence so how do we NOT expect our kids to want to solve their problems in a violent way?The NRA is suggesting that the only way to live in a "free" society is to arm every American 24 hours a day. When was the last time you seen a movie where the good guy just outsmarted the bad guy?
Nope, our movies depict the good guy just out shoots the bad guy. I LOVE the "Die Hard" movies but John Mclane will never win a Noble Peace Prize. People will be taking their children to this movie this weekend. How can anyone wonder how our kids get the idea that violence solves their problems.
Simply being rude is not bullying. Simply making fun of someone occasionally is not bullying. Making fun of someone constantly, multiple times a day is bullying. This should have been noticed by a teacher and stopped. However, given the lack of respect given to teachers and their increased workloads, and the fact that this might have occurred primarily at recess or on the bus, teachers might not have noticed it. It was then up to the boys to report it.
However, bullying does not justify killing. No way, no how. The boys are the ones responsible for this.
Violence on TV, video games that show killing of everyone and everything, no corrective measures allowed in schools except "tmeout"....
This is what our society has planted and now it's time for us to play with our childrens lives...
Life is full of bullies, whether in school or the work place--being rude and obnoxious does not warrant a death sentence, all of us, can't name one person who has never been bullied in one form of another--however, 99% of us develop coping skills and just keep on trucking right along. Seems to me that there maybe more to the story including a psychopath in the early development stage along with the loyal trooper. Sometimes nature overcomes nurture. Wonder what the behind closed doors family life is/was like--older brother stealing from Grandpa, not good.
Zeroing in on the gun, please, stolen and probably Granddad had no idea it was stolen, don't know too many people that check their weapons on a daily basis--meanwhile don't expect a relative to steal from you. Article said rural area, so having a weapon in the home not unusual.
Relieved that the plot was discovered before something terrible would have happened, what about the toady that accepted the $80.00 bribe. Life is cheap.
That's messed up.
Nothing wrong wih this world. Nothing at all.
Ah, childhood.. such an innocent, carefree paradise!
Regarding parenting, friends of mine have 3 sons. The youngest and oldest were decent kids and grew to become decent adults. I observed the middle brother change from a decent 11-year-old to a little thug worshiping gangster by age 13. At 19, he was convicted of armed robbery and is behind bars. I am baffled as to why the middle child became such a bad apple while his 2 brothers grew up to become law abiding responsible adults. All 3 brothers have the same parents, exhibited equally good levels of intelligence and grew up in the same home. Both parents worked hard to provide for their family and appeared to raise all 3 of their children fairly with shared love and caring. Parenting does not always explain why some children become little monsters.
It's called a "bad seed."
I know of a similar story to yours - 5 kids, three older sisters, two younger brothers. The middle sister was a junkie, thief, prostitute, forger, violent assaults, etc. Other kids were all decent and respectable.
Ahh.... I love it. (Sarcams). Boys who probably brought a gun to school (owned by a responsible gun owner), and a knife. The NRAs way of saying how to protect our children.
The NRA doesn't promote knifes. Blame the NRA on what your parents lack. Parenting skills.
What an immature notion.Despite W L's drama of late,this is not the belief of the NRA,me,or any other responsible adult pro or con the gun debate.You assertion.assumption,or preconcieved notion,gut or whatever else you use to form ideas is wrong. You could say thaat the boys got a gun from an IRRESPONSIBLE adult,AND that the NRA does NOT espouse this as an approriate way of protecting our children.IN fact isn't this about an illegal appropriation of a weapon,for an illegal use[murder/'protection'?].Maybe get something prescribed for that
As, yes! The NRA is conspiring to kill all school children. Just ask any liberal if you are in doubt.
Pity them, for they know what they do. The completey indoctrinated read "gun" and have been conditioned to drool and type "NRA." What's that you say, Pavlov?
Ahh Yes... the NRA.. lead by a CEO that couldn't serve in Vietnam because of mental illness... and now says that mental illness is the cause of gun violence.
Little girls can be big b!tches. This one must be a little monster.
OBUMMER TO OUTLAW KNIVES
Following a very close call in Washington State, the President has asked Congress to immediately draft legislation outlawing all knives. This drastic position follows the Presidents stand on firearms. "We can no longer endanger our youth with exposure to such weapons", said President Obummer in an interview with CNNs Pierce Moron, Friday. "I am issuing a Presidential Finding authorizing the use of our military to seize all knives currently in the possession of American Citizens. "While the Second Amendment doesn't specifically state that knives are constitutionally protected", said Obummer, "I feel the NCA (National Cutlery Association) will likely try to use this position in support of continued possession." He continued during the interview stating, "My Socialist goal is to rid the American people with the ability to defend themselves against aggression, thereby making it much easier to defeat them when my friends attack". …
Wake up America, this President uses his smiles and charm, to guide us down the path to distruction. First our Constitutional liberties then our freedom to chose our own health insurance...
Obviously this is an overstatement. The juveniles involved in this incident need help, as was pointed out above the parents haven't done a very good job of teaching them coping skills. Violence only leads to more violence. Treatment of mental illness is complicated and these boys need help. But the threat to our was of life is being jeapordized by the administration.
Notice how carefully the authorities and media avoid mentioning the phenomenon of how schools attract so much violence. A review of all the violence over the last twenty years will reveal the reality of that fact. The environment at school campuses inspire and attract intense violent behavior as no where else.
Nope. Facts show that urban gangs commit the majority of all gun violence in this country. You need to do further review, or quit making up BS.
How old is the "older" brother? Was he old enough to be in possession of the gun given to him from the Grandfather? Arrest the Grandfather, older brother and the two young ones. The girl, whether she was bullying or not, will probably not give people a hard time again. And for the moron that wants to ban handguns, come and get mine fool. Jump on the bandwagon, and kiss Odumbos A$$ while you are at it. Should they ban the knife too. I'll be over to take yours from your kitchen, moron.
He is under 18. The DEAD grandfather did not give him the gun, he stole it from the DEAD grandfather's house. But by all means, let's arrest the DEAD GRANDFATHER!
You need to learn to go to other sources and get facts that NBCLite never includes in their "stories."
Then you won't look so ignorant when you post.
women are to blame for everything. bunch of bullies