An Indiana teenager has admitted to plotting a mass shooting at a high school on Valentine’s Day and faces sentencing next month after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit murder. Authorities say the suspect, Trinity Shockley, had firearms access, a bulletproof vest and materials tied to previous mass shooters, and investigators uncovered plans and a shrine during a search of the home. A plea agreement would limit the maximum prison term and add long-term restrictions, and the case has raised questions about mental health, school safety and how warning signs are handled.
Trinity Shockley, identified as 18 years old, reportedly identifies as male but uses female pronouns and confessed after an investigation that began when a caller reported access to weapons and concerning behavior. Officials say police found a collection of items linked to previous mass shooters, along with detailed blueprints for an attack at Mooresville High School. The discovery prompted charges of felony conspiracy to commit murder and set a court timeline that culminates in a guilty plea and upcoming sentencing.
Searches of the home revealed a shrine to Nikolas Cruz, the Parkland shooter, alongside other materials investigators tied to planning an attack timed with the Parkland anniversary. Those findings were cited by prosecutors as evidence of intent and obsession with mass shootings. The presence of a bulletproof vest and weapons access intensified concerns about the immediacy of the threat and the need for rapid intervention by law enforcement and school officials.
A mass shooting-obsessed trans teen has admitted to plotting a Valentine’s Day massacre at her Indiana high school.
Trinity Shockley, 18, is set to plead guilty to felony conspiracy to commit murder in return for a maximum of 12.5 years behind bars plus five years of probation, according to the Morgan County Prosecutor’s office.
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When officers searched Shockley’s home, they found a twisted shrine to Parkland Florida mass shooter Nikolas Cruz, and other sick mass shooters.
They also found evidence that Shockley was planning a shooting at her own school — Mooresville High School — and was planning to stage it to coincide with the anniversary of the Parkland shooting.
In addition to jail time and probation, Shockley is also barred from researching school shooters for life – and will be required to download monitoring software on all electronic devices to be kept accountable.
Shockley will be barred from ever owning a gun, and will have to pay for mental health counseling.
The teen is expected to make the guilty plea in court on Nov. 24.
Authorities say the plea deal would cap a prison sentence at 12.5 years and add five years of probation, with conditions that include lifetime restrictions on researching mass shooters and monitoring of electronic devices. The agreement also reportedly includes a ban on firearm ownership and requirements for mental health counseling. Prosecutors contend those terms balance punishment, public safety and the need for supervision after release.
School officials, law enforcement and local mental health providers have highlighted how tips from the public can prevent violence, noting that in this case a community member’s call led to a search that uncovered the planned attack. Investigators say prompt reporting allowed them to intervene before any attack occurred, and they emphasize the role of threat assessment and coordination between schools and police. The case is being used locally to review threat reporting channels and prevention strategies.
Mental health factors are part of the court record, with a guidance counselor telling investigators that Shockley had been struggling after the recent overdose death of a parent. Officials pointed to that crisis as a possible influence on behavior leading up to the plot and the arrest. Mental health experts and legal advocates often stress that criminal responsibility and treatment needs must both be considered in cases involving serious threats by young people.
Community reaction includes concern about school safety and debate over appropriate penalties and rehabilitation for a teenager convicted of conspiracy to commit murder. Some residents and officials want stricter consequences and longer sentences, while others emphasize the need for mental health treatment and supervised reintegration if and when a sentence is completed. The legal outcome will include sentencing terms and conditions intended to prevent further risk to schools and the public.
Court records show the matter will proceed with a formal guilty plea and sentencing scheduled next month, where a judge will decide the exact prison term and the conditions of probation and ongoing monitoring. Local authorities say they will continue reviewing policies to detect and disrupt similar plots in the future. The case remains a focal point for discussions about prevention, reporting and the intersection of youth mental health and violent intent.
