A shocking story out of Indiana has people talking — and for good reason. The viral headlines say a transgender student was plotting a school shooting and just pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder. But as with many stories that go viral online, the full truth is more complex and worth digging into. So we took a closer look at the court records, police reports, and news coverage to understand what really happened — and what didn’t.
Here’s what we found.
Eighteen-year-old Trinity J. Shockley, who identifies as a transgender male and sometimes goes by the names Jamie or Dex, was arrested earlier this year after being accused of planning a mass shooting at Mooresville High School in Indiana. The plot appeared to target Valentine’s Day, which raised concerns because it’s also the date of the 2018 Parkland school massacre in Florida — a tragedy that left 17 people dead.
Authorities say the FBI got a tip about Shockley’s plan. That tip included some chilling details: Shockley had reportedly ordered a bulletproof vest, had access to an AR-15 rifle, and had expressed admiration for mass shooters like Nikolas Cruz (the Parkland shooter), Dylann Roof (who attacked a church in Charleston), and Ethan Crumbley (who shot up a school in Michigan in 2021).
When police searched Shockley’s home, they found what was described as a “shrine” to these killers. There were photos, buttons, and even a notebook full of disturbing thoughts. In one diary entry, Shockley wrote, “I have a lot of homicidal thoughts… These thoughts never seem to stop.” Investigators also uncovered messages sent on Discord and Snapchat under the name “Crazy Nikolaz,” where Shockley talked about wanting to carry out a “Parkland part two” and said, “I’ll be honest. I’m close to shooting mine up.”
That doesn’t sound like a joke. But when questioned by police, Shockley claimed the whole thing wasn’t real — that it was just talk. Authorities disagreed, and in February, Shockley was charged with conspiracy to commit murder and two counts of intimidation related to terrorism.
Now, months later, Shockley has taken a plea deal. On Monday, the teen pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit murder, which is a serious charge under Indiana law. It’s a Level 2 felony, which can carry a prison sentence of 10 to 30 years. As part of the plea agreement, the two intimidation charges were dropped.
Shockley’s lawyer is asking for a lighter sentence — no more than 12 and a half years in prison, followed by up to five years of probation. As part of the plea deal, Shockley must also meet with mental health professionals and is banned from searching for school shooting content or setting foot on school property in Morgan County.
There’s also a tragic part of this story that may help explain — but not excuse — how things got to this point. Back in 2022, Shockley was hit by a suspected drunk driver and suffered a fractured skull and brain injuries. Shockley reportedly asked the school district for mental health help afterward, but court documents say the teen’s father refused to allow that support, saying he didn’t believe in mental health treatment.
It’s a reminder that many of these tragic situations don’t come out of nowhere. While Shockley’s actions are deeply disturbing, they also show what can happen when warning signs are ignored, mental illness goes untreated, and violent obsessions are allowed to grow in the dark.
Thankfully, this plot was stopped before anyone got hurt. The FBI acted quickly, and local police took the threat seriously. Lives may have been saved because someone spoke up.
The sentencing is set for November 24, and the judge will decide how much time Shockley will serve. No matter what, this case is a wake-up call. Whether it’s about school safety, the dangers of online radicalization, or the need for real mental health care, there are lessons here we can’t afford to ignore.