Crime
Braeden Phillips in Custody for Allegedly Plotting Mass Shooting at State College High School
STATE COLLEGE, PA — A 20-year-old Pennsylvania man remains in custody after being accused of plotting a mass shooting at State College High School, scheduled to coincide with the anniversary of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre.
According to a criminal complaint filed by State College Police, Braeden Phillips allegedly planned to carry out the attack on April 21 — one day after the 26th anniversary of the Columbine shooting, in which two students killed 13 people and wounded more than 20 others before taking their own lives.
Phillips is charged with conspiracy to commit murder and unlawful possession of a firearm. He is being held without bond at the Centre County Correctional Facility, where court documents state he is considered an “extreme danger to the community.”
No attorney was listed in court records to represent him at this time.
Authorities allege that Phillips had created a detailed plan for the attack, which was to begin at approximately 8:40 a.m., a time when school hallways are heavily trafficked by students and staff.
The complaint states that Phillips intended to carry out the shooting near the school’s main staircase and had also planned to place explosives in school bathrooms.
Police say Phillips compiled a “hit list” and discussed the plot with several individuals. One juvenile acquaintance allegedly told investigators he had been recruited to participate in the attack.
The investigation was initiated after staff at a Centre County youth center reported disturbing information shared by another resident.
Police then conducted interviews with Phillips’ friends and acquaintances, several of whom stated he had described the planned shooting in detail and had shown them a firearm.
When questioned about Phillips’ motives, one friend reportedly told officers that Phillips expressed resentment toward the school, saying it had “failed him” and “did not serve his educational needs.”
Phillips allegedly selected April 21 for the attack because April 20 — the actual date of the Columbine massacre — falls on a Sunday this year, when school would not be in session.
State College Police commended the actions of the youth center staff and emphasized the importance of community vigilance.
“This investigation underscores the critical role that the public plays in helping law enforcement prevent violence,” the department said in a statement. “We are grateful for the citizen who spoke up. This is a powerful reminder that if you see something, say something.”
Phillips is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday. Authorities continue to investigate whether any other individuals were involved in the alleged plot.
Crime
Eric Bechtolt Killed After Shooting at Florence Tower in Omaha, Suspect Billy Dorrall Arrested
Omaha, NE – On Sunday evening, Omaha Police Department officers responded to an active shooting at Florence Tower, located at 5100 Florence Blvd, following multiple 911 calls reporting gunfire inside the building.
The first reports were received at 6:05 p.m., with at least three separate callers stating they had heard shots fired on the fifth or sixth floor of the apartment complex.
By 6:14 p.m., a fourth caller reported seeing a male suspect walking on the sixth floor carrying two handguns.
Uniform Patrol officers arrived on scene at 6:11 p.m. and began a floor-by-floor search of the building, starting from the fifth floor.
As officers ascended the south stairwell toward the sixth floor, they heard sounds of a disturbance.
Just as they neared the sixth-floor door, it was abruptly opened by a male suspect — later identified as 50-year-old Billy A. Dorrall.
At that moment, one officer discharged their service weapon, striking Dorrall in the left hip.
In response, Dorrall fired back down the stairwell and then retreated into the sixth-floor hallway.
Once back in the hallway, Dorrall reportedly fired multiple rounds, aiming both up and down the corridor, and threatened several residents at gunpoint.
A coordinated arrest team, equipped with a ballistic shield, moved into position while officers in the stairwell maintained containment. As they prepared to enter the hallway, officers heard additional gunfire.
The arrest team entered the hallway, issued loud verbal commands, and Dorrall surrendered without further incident.
He was immediately provided medical treatment by Omaha Fire Department personnel and transported to Nebraska Medicine, where he was treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. He has since been released into police custody.
During the investigation, officers recovered surveillance footage from building cameras, which was provided by the Omaha Housing Authority.
The footage shows Dorrall behaving erratically and confronting residents before engaging in a verbal altercation with another tenant, identified as 45-year-old Eric M. Bechtolt.
The video shows Dorrall returning to his apartment, retrieving a firearm, and shooting Bechtolt multiple times in the hallway. Responding officers later found Bechtolt deceased outside the stairwell door.
Dorrall was interviewed by detectives and provided a full confession, admitting to the murder of Bechtolt.
He also expressed an intent to kill additional residents and responding officers had he not been stopped.
Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer issued a statement commending the officers involved:
“I want to commend the officers who responded to this incredibly dangerous situation. Their training, courage, and swift response undoubtedly prevented further loss of life. What unfolded at Florence Tower was tragic, and our thoughts and condolences are with the family and loved ones of Mr. Bechtolt. Our officers acted heroically under extreme pressure, and I am proud of their commitment to protecting the residents of Omaha.”
The department has released still images from surveillance footage, showing Dorrall armed with two handguns, along with crime scene photographs of the weapons, ammunition, and spent shell casings recovered from the scene.
The investigation remains ongoing.