Mom of Teen in Alleged School Plot Faces Firearms Charges

Oct 12, 08:00 PM

Current Headlines: PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. _ Authorities have charged the mother of a 14-year-old boy who allegedly planned a deadly attack on a Philadelphia-area high school with firearms charges.

Meanwhile, a police affidavit released Friday says the 14-year-old, Dillon Cossey, "admitted to plans of carrying out the attack on Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School."

It describes the allegedly planned attack as "a Columbine type shooting."

His mother, Michele Cossey, 46, of Plymouth Meeting, Pa., was charged Friday with several felonies, including unlawful transfer of firearms and aiding the possession of a firearm by a minor.

The 9mm rifle was seized Thursday, but Friday a police affidavit disclosed that there were additional weapons in the house.

The affidavit said, "The child also stated that Michele Cossey purchased a Ruger .22 hand gun, a single shot .22 rifle, and a 9 mm semi-automatic rifle for the child." They were not in the family's possession when police arrested the teenager Wednesday night.

At Cossey's arraignment, her attorney, Tim Woodward, said his client was "not physically well," but declined to elaborate. She required the assistance of detectives, and a walker, to get into the courtroom.

In a separate proceeding, Dillon, who was found in possession of the operative 9mm weapon as well as air guns and a Columbine video, was detained and ordered to under psychiatric and academic evaluations.

The teenager's attorney, J. David Farrell, said he understood why students and parents were concerned, but said, "There was never any imminent danger of harm."

"This is a Columbine in the making? Its simply not borne out by the facts," said J. David Farrell, "The gun was never used in an unlawful manner."

Farrell said the youth was "intelligent, he's articulate, he understands the gravity of these offenses."

Plymouth Township Deputy Chief of Police Joe Lawrence said the two other firearms connected were discovered because the mother had given them to a friend so her husband would not know about the weapons.

___

(c) 2007, The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Visit Philadelphia Online, the Inquirer's World Wide Web site, at http://www.philly.com/

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

_____

PHOTOS (from MCT Photo Service, 202-383-6099): SCHOOLTHREAT

For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. 1049915