Crime
Authorities Thwart Alleged School Shooting Plot Following Tip to Sandy Hook Promise Hotline
Washington County, WI – A 19-year-old woman from the Town of Addison was initially identified as a suspect in an alleged school shooting plot after a tip was forwarded to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
However, through a complex multi-agency investigation, authorities determined that the actual suspect was an 18-year-old Indiana woman, who has since been arrested and charged.
On the evening of Monday, February 10, 2025, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a critical tip from the Wisconsin Department of Justice regarding threats to carry out a school shooting on Valentine’s Day and to kill the suspect’s best friend.
The tip, which did not identify a specific school, named a 19-year-old woman from the Town of Addison as the suspect.
Recognizing the severity of the threat, Washington County Sheriff’s Office personnel acted immediately.
The 911 dispatcher alerted a shift supervisor, and authorities placed the suspect’s residence under surveillance while investigators worked throughout the night.
Washington County detectives, in coordination with the District Attorney’s Office, sought to determine the suspect’s possible targets.
During their investigation, authorities quickly learned that the Town of Addison woman did not attend any school, and no specific local school was identified as a target.
The original tip was first received by the Sandy Hook Promise Violence Hotline, which then relayed it to the FBI.
The FBI passed the information to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, which ultimately forwarded it to Washington County authorities.
Investigators determined that the suspect was linked to two social media accounts.
The FBI confirmed that one of these accounts belonged to the Town of Addison woman, prompting immediate surveillance of her residence.
Authorities obtained a phone number for the tipster from caller ID records at Sandy Hook Promise and maintained real-time communication with the informant.
The tipster, who was in direct contact with the actual suspect, provided investigators with critical evidence, including:
- Screenshots of conversations where the suspect discussed plans for a school attack.
- Photos of weapons, ammunition magazines, and a tactical vest.
- Images of the suspect’s bedroom, which displayed numerous photographs of past school shooters.
Early Tuesday morning, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Multi-Jurisdictional SWAT team executed a search warrant at the Town of Addison woman’s residence, taking her into custody.
During questioning, the woman fully cooperated with law enforcement.
It was quickly determined that she was not the individual making the threats but rather had interacted with the actual suspect in an online chat group dedicated to discussing school shooters.
With this new information, Washington County detectives refocused their investigation on identifying the true suspect.
One investigator, using advanced covert online tactics, was able to befriend the suspect on social media.
This allowed authorities to obtain crucial user information while simultaneously instructing the informant to obtain the suspect’s phone number.
Upon obtaining the phone number, investigators confirmed that the actual suspect was located in Indiana. The information was immediately forwarded to the FBI’s Indianapolis Field Office for follow-up.
By early Thursday morning, the FBI informed Washington County authorities that 18-year-old Trinity Shockley had been arrested in Mooresville, Indiana.
Shockley confessed to plotting the murder of her best friend and planning a school shooting on Valentine’s Day.
Authorities have found no evidence linking the Town of Addison woman to the Indiana school shooting plot, and no charges will be filed against her.
She was released from custody on Tuesday afternoon.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities continue to analyze potential connections and digital evidence.
Washington County Sheriff Martin Schulteis emphasized the significance of the anonymous tip and the dedication of law enforcement personnel.
“An absolute catastrophe was thwarted because this tipster—who wishes to remain anonymous—came forward. I have personally expressed my gratitude to them. As I reflect on the gravity of this investigation and the horrific outcomes that could have unfolded had events played out differently, I am truly humbled by the dedication and performance of my staff.”
Authorities stress the importance of public vigilance and the role of anonymous reporting hotlines in preventing acts of mass violence.
Crime
16-year-old Khyon Smith-Tate found shot to death inside Chipotle bathroom on edge of Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA — A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot inside the bathroom of a Chipotle restaurant near Temple University’s campus in North Philadelphia on Monday afternoon, police said, as students and staff returned for the first day of the Spring 2026 semester.
The shooting occurred at approximately 5:00 p.m. inside the Chipotle located in the 1100 block of West Montgomery Avenue, on the ground floor of The View at Montgomery apartment complex. The building is situated near Temple University’s Student Center and TECH Center.
Police later identified the victim as Khyon Smith-Tate, a North Philadelphia resident. Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said Smith-Tate was found with a gunshot wound to the chest and was pronounced dead at 5:24 p.m.
Temple University President John Fry and Vice President for Public Safety and Chief of Police Jennifer Griffin issued a joint statement following the incident:
“The loss of life to gun violence is a profound tragedy, and there are no words that can make sense of it. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and loved ones.”
According to investigators, Smith-Tate and another minor entered the restaurant and requested access to the restroom. Chief Inspector Small said the shooting is believed to have occurred inside the bathroom.
Moments later, employees discovered Smith-Tate suffering from a gunshot wound. Police recovered one spent shell casing from a semiautomatic weapon inside the restroom.
Although the victim’s last known address was approximately eight blocks from the scene, authorities have not indicated what brought him to the location or what led to the shooting.
At the time of the incident, the restaurant was crowded, and multiple individuals inside the business were detained briefly for questioning. However, police said they have not yet obtained any statements from witnesses who reported hearing a gunshot.
A person of interest was taken into custody several blocks from the scene shortly after the shooting, but Chief Inspector Small said that individual’s involvement remains unclear.
As of Tuesday, police confirmed that no arrests have been made and no motive has been established.
Investigators believe Smith-Tate entered the restroom with another minor, though the whereabouts of that individual remain unknown.
Police are also seeking information about three possible suspects, described as teenagers carrying backpacks.
Chief Inspector Small noted that the area is equipped with numerous surveillance cameras, which detectives are reviewing as part of the ongoing investigation.
Authorities are asking anyone with information related to the incident to contact the Philadelphia Police Department.