Freedom High School student planned mass murder first day of classes, police say

TAMPA - A student was arrested Tuesday after authorities learned he had devised an elaborate plot to murder dozens of people on the first day of classes at Freedom High School, according to Tampa Police Chief Jane Castor.

The evidence against 17-year-old Jared Michael Cano includes bomb-making materials and a highly detailed manifesto.

At a news conference Wednesday, Castor said Cano planned to kill 32 people at Freedom High. His intended victims included two vice principals.

Castor said authorities were alerted to Cano's plan after an anonymous tipster came forward Tuesday morning. Cano is a former Freedom High School student who was expelled a year and a half ago, officials say.

Cano's mother, a reported math school teacher at Riverview High School, consented to police searching her home.

Chief Castor says authorities found pipe bomb-making materials and a manifesto containing Cano's minute-by-minute plan for the massacre, in which he detailed each murder he intended to commit. 

"He also mentioned his desire to cause more casualties than were suffered at Columbine (High School)," Castor said.

Cano acted alone and had no accomplices, Castor said.

He is charged with threatening to throw, project, place or discharge a destructive device.

Cano also faces charges for possession of bomb-making materials, cultivation of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana, police say.

The high school's principal says that about 2,100 students will return to school on August 23 as planned.

Officials say more security will be present on Freedom High School's campus.

Cano appeared before a judge Wednesday morning. His next hearing has been scheduled for September 2.

Stay with abcactionnews for more on this developing story.