DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A former Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University student accused of plotting a mass shooting in 2021 at the Daytona Beach school was sentenced Monday to eight years in prison followed by 22 years of probation.
John Hagins pleaded no contest to charges of attempted manslaughter, attempted terrorism and written threats to kill or commit bodily injury.
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Investigators said the ex-flight student had joked about “shooting up” the school on multiple occasions. Two students also reported that Hagins made threats over Snapchat about a desire to “enact a Columbine.”
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On the morning of Dec. 9, 2021, Daytona Beach police arrested Hagins outside his home at Andros Isles Apartments after he was seen leaving his apartment with the backpack. At the time, officers said he had a gun and 300 rounds of ammunition.
Originally, Hagins was facing up to 45 years behind bars.
“This defendant was stopped before he could carry out his plan to inflict mass casualties on one of our country’s most prestigious universities,” State Attorney R.J. Larizza said about the case. “We should all be profoundly grateful for the investigative prowess exhibited by the DBPD.”
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