Ohio man accused of plotting school attack pleads not guilty

Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:36 PM EDT

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CLEVELAND — A man pleaded not guilty Monday to a charge accusing him of e-mailing an Indiana teenager about conducting a Columbine-style attack on two schools.

Lee Billi, 33, of the Cleveland suburb of Lakewood, made no comment during the hearing through a video hookup from jail. His attorney entered the plea on a charge of conspiracy to commit murder.

A Cuyahoga County Common Pleas judge set bail at $250,000.

Police in Lakewood have said they don't know how far along the two were in the alleged plan but said Billi and the unidentified 16-year-old were talking about a Columbine-type plot, a reference to the 1999 massacre at a Colorado high school in which two students killed 12 classmates and a teacher and then committed suicide.

Authorities said Billi and the teenager exchanged e-mails on April 20 and discussed mass murders at the teen's school near South Bend, Ind., and at another location, which police haven't identified.

Investigators removed a computer, computer disks, papers, books and three partial boxes of handgun ammunition from Billi's home, authorities said.

At the teen's home in South Bend, authorities said they found more than 100 knives and several illegal snakes. The teen lived in his deceased grandfather's house in a rundown neighborhood scattered with vacant houses.

Authorities said a school officer investigating an unrelated threat at the teen's school, Penn High, had discovered Internet postings in which the teen discussed his support for the Columbine shooters.

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M.R. Kropko's Column, All of Newsvine
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{"commentId":1732112,"authorDomain":"patsym546"}

patsym546

I just don't understand all the young people so willing to just calmly take the lives of many people. and planning these school executions! Whatever happened to working out the problems? We got into fights at school when I was younger-maybe not the best way to solve problems, but it was usually one on one with your bully or your enemy..we talked to school counselors, teacher and our parents. When and why did all of this change? How can these kids think it is ok to just mow down your teachers and your classmates? Does this reflect changes in our society and culture in general, or are they more specific to parenting issues? Is there just more mental illness today? Or i it that the only way these kids know how to solve a problem?

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#1 - Fri Apr 25, 2008 3:05 AM EDT

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Ohio man accused of plotting school attack pleads not guilty

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