The dark social media world of self-proclaimed “Columbiners”
James Gamble’s Tumblr page
A plot to commit a mass shooting at a Halifax, Nova Scotia mall on Valentine’s Day was foiled last week after local police received an anonymous tip leading to two arrests and the suicide of a teenage suspect. In the aftermath, police discovered a trail of evidence on social media that weaves a disturbing story of the suspects’ strange true crime fantasies.
The police have identified the three suspects as Randall Shepherd, 20, and James Gamble, 19, both from Halifax, and Lindsay Souvannarath, 23, from Geneva, Illinois. Shepherd and Souvannarath are both in police custody for conspiracy to commit murder, but James Gamble killed himself when police surrounded his home earlier last week.
The three suspects were active on social media, especially Tumblr, where they discussed true crimes involving mass killing and posted pictures of the Columbine shooters, Nazi symbols, weapons, and more.
Cara-Jade Lynch, who became close to Shepherd through Tumblr, describes a young man whose depression showed through is social media presence.
“I think people on Tumblr just understand these things more,” Lynch told The Guardian. “You feel like you can be yourself there without any judgment.”
According to Lynch, Shepherd had been acting strangely in the weeks leading up to the planned attack, saying that he “wouldn’t be around much longer.” Now, in retrospect, Lynch realizes what the 20-year-old meant.
“The clock is ticking”
Aside from the three suspects’ strange obsession with Columbine, there were also cryptic references to the planned Valentine’s Day shooting. “It’s almost here, the clock is ticking,” Souvannarath wrote in a post on social media. “Saturday the 14th. Valentines Day. It’s going down.”
Despite the circumstances of his death, several people in the “true crime” Tumblr communities have posted images of Gamble with memorial messages for the teen.
“James, you ran a cool blog and will be missed,” wrote one member of the community who claims to have known Gamble from his online alias, shallow-existences . “I’m sorry this had to happen, none of us wanted this for you, but perhaps your soul is finally at ease. If anyone feels helpless, please do not be afraid to reach out to somebody. It doesn’t have to go down like this.”
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