Thwart Alleged School Shooting Plot Following Tip to Sandy Hook Promise Hotline

Washington County, WI – February 14, 2025 – A potential tragedy was averted in Washington County, Wisconsin, thanks to a swift and coordinated response from multiple law enforcement agencies following an anonymous tip received through the Sandy Hook Promise Violence Hotline. The investigation, which initially pointed to a 19-year-old woman from the Town of Addison as the suspect, eventually revealed that the actual perpetrator was an 18-year-old woman from Indiana. The suspect has since been arrested and charged in connection with the plot.

The Initial Tip and Early Response

The critical chain of events began on the evening of Monday, February 10, 2025, when the Washington County Sheriff’s Office received an alarming tip from the Wisconsin Department of Justice. According to the information, a potential school shooting was planned for Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2025. The tip not only mentioned a general threat but also indicated that the suspect was planning to target a school and kill her best friend. However, the tip did not specify which school was at risk, leaving investigators with limited information about the potential target.

The initial report named a 19-year-old woman from the Town of Addison as the primary suspect. In response, Washington County Sheriff’s Office personnel quickly recognized the severity of the threat and acted without delay. The tip was so concerning that a 911 dispatcher immediately alerted a shift supervisor, and the decision was made to place the residence of the suspected individual under surveillance.

Throughout the night of February 10 and into the morning of February 11, investigators worked tirelessly, monitoring the residence and attempting to piece together more details about the suspect and the potential target. At the same time, local authorities in Washington County began coordinating their efforts with other agencies to determine the full scope of the threat.

Collaboration and Investigation Unfolds

Washington County detectives, in close cooperation with the District Attorney’s Office, worked around the clock to try and identify the suspect’s possible targets and motives. The investigation quickly revealed a critical detail: the 19-year-old woman from Addison, who had been initially identified as the suspect, did not attend any local schools. This discovery prompted authorities to broaden their search for more clues and reassess the scope of the threat.

During their investigation, law enforcement discovered that the tip received by the Wisconsin Department of Justice had originally been submitted to the Sandy Hook Promise Violence Hotline. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to preventing gun violence in schools, and their hotline has played a pivotal role in preventing multiple potential school shootings in recent years. Once the tip was received by Sandy Hook Promise, it was promptly passed along to the FBI, who then forwarded it to the Wisconsin Department of Justice. The department, in turn, passed the information along to the Washington County authorities, setting the wheels of a full-scale investigation into motion.

As investigators delved deeper into the suspect’s online activities, they uncovered further crucial information. Authorities found that the woman from Addison was linked to two social media accounts, and one of these accounts was verified by the FBI as belonging to her. Given this, surveillance on the woman’s residence was intensified, and investigators continued to gather more data from various sources, including the records of the Sandy Hook Promise hotline.

The Critical Role of the Tipster

One of the most vital pieces of evidence came from the tipster, who remained in direct communication with the real suspect. The tipster provided authorities with a wealth of evidence that proved critical in confirming the existence of the plot. This included screenshots of online conversations where the actual suspect openly discussed her plans for carrying out a school shooting. These conversations included disturbing details, such as the suspect’s specific plans for the attack and her intentions to target a school on Valentine’s Day.

Additionally, the tipster provided several unsettling images, including photos of weapons, ammunition magazines, and a tactical vest. These images, along with photographs of the suspect’s bedroom, which contained numerous images of past school shooters, painted a disturbing picture of the suspect’s fixation on violent acts and school shootings.

As investigators pieced together the evidence provided by the tipster, it became clear that the Addison woman was not the person making the threats. Rather, she had been part of an online chat group dedicated to discussing school shooters, and she had been interacting with the actual suspect. It was soon determined that the woman from Addison had been a secondary figure in the case, with no direct involvement in the planning of the attack. Instead, she had been in contact with the 18-year-old Indiana woman, who was ultimately identified as the person behind the plot.

The Execution of the Search Warrant

By early Tuesday morning, February 11, 2025, investigators had gathered enough evidence to take decisive action. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office, with the help of a Multi-Jurisdictional SWAT team, executed a search warrant at the residence of the Town of Addison woman. The SWAT team arrived at the location early in the morning, and the woman was taken into custody for questioning.

During her interrogation, the Addison woman was fully cooperative with law enforcement. She admitted to her interactions with the actual suspect in an online chat group but insisted that she had not been involved in any direct planning of the shooting. Authorities quickly confirmed that she had not been the person making the threats, nor had she been planning any violent acts herself.

The Arrest of the Actual Suspect

The breakthrough in the case came when the true identity of the actual suspect, an 18-year-old woman from Indiana, was revealed. This woman, who had been hiding behind a social media profile, had been making plans to carry out the shooting, which included her disturbing fixation on past school shootings. The information gathered from the tipster, combined with the surveillance of the Addison woman’s residence and the online evidence, provided investigators with the final piece of the puzzle.

The Indiana woman was arrested and charged in connection with the plot, with authorities continuing to investigate the full extent of her involvement. The details of her plans, including her intended targets and specific methods, are still under review as law enforcement works to determine whether she had any accomplices or if she was acting alone.

Averting Tragedy: The Importance of Public Reporting

The successful prevention of this potential school shooting highlights the critical role that public vigilance and timely reporting play in averting tragedies. The tip that sparked the investigation came from a concerned individual who took the time to report the threat to the Sandy Hook Promise Violence Hotline. The swift response of law enforcement agencies across multiple states, as well as the dedication of investigators, helped prevent what could have been a devastating event.

This case also underscores the importance of organizations like Sandy Hook Promise, whose hotline and educational programs work to prevent violence in schools and communities. Their ongoing efforts to engage with the public and raise awareness about the signs of potential violence are vital in the fight against gun violence and school shootings.

Authorities continue to encourage the public to report any suspicious activity or potential threats they encounter. Resources like the Sandy Hook Promise Violence Hotline offer a critical lifeline for individuals who may be concerned about the safety of their schools, neighborhoods, and loved ones.

In a statement, Washington County Sheriff’s Office officials reiterated the importance of community involvement in ensuring public safety: “This incident serves as a reminder that when the public is vigilant and willing to speak up, lives can be saved. We are grateful for the cooperation of everyone involved in this case and remain committed to keeping our communities safe.”

Moving Forward

As the investigation into the Indiana woman’s actions continues, law enforcement officials are working to determine whether she had any external influence or further plans for violence. Authorities are also reviewing her past activities to see if there are any additional warning signs that could have been overlooked. The public, meanwhile, is urged to remain alert and continue reporting any suspicious behavior or online activity that could indicate a threat.

The case also raises ongoing concerns about the role of social media and online communities in fueling violent ideologies, especially when it comes to school shootings. Law enforcement and community leaders continue to search for ways to better identify and prevent online radicalization and to protect vulnerable individuals from falling into dangerous networks.

While the arrest of the suspect has provided a sense of relief, authorities remain vigilant, knowing that similar threats can emerge at any time. As this case demonstrates, timely intervention and collaboration between law enforcement agencies, community organizations, and the public can be the key to preventing further violence.

This incident also serves as a call to action for those who may know of others planning harm or exhibiting dangerous behaviors. The timely sharing of information with authorities and organizations like Sandy Hook Promise can make all the difference in preventing future tragedies and ensuring that our schools remain safe places for learning.