ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla.,None — An 18-year-old Lake Brantley High School junior texted and posted threatening messages on Facebook as part of a plot to attack his school, Seminole County investigators said.
Ominous warnings were hidden in the Facebook posts of the teenager. Strange posts counting down to "a day of terror," and "let the carnage begin," were written by Emmanuel Costas, investigators said.
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Police said Costas was planning a Columbine-style attack at Lake Brantley High School to be carried out during lunch on April 17, 2012, nearly 12 years to the day of the Columbine shootings.
Altamonte Springs police arrested and charged Costas with attempted murder and written threats to kill or do bodily harm, according to a report.
Detectives said that the warnings might have gone unnoticed if another student hadn't received a text from Costas and told a parent.
Altamonte Spring police Chief Michael Deal said that Costas had anger issues and fantasized about a Columbine-style massacre for the past two years. The student was probably bullied in high school, police said.
Costas seemed aloof and fidgety as a judge told him he was going to be held without bond for planning an attack on hundreds of students at the school.
"We recovered documents outlining a plan, a detailed plan, to carry out this shooting," Deal said.
Police said they found the comments on his Facebook page reading, "a day of terror will strike upon everyone's soul," and "everybody prepare urselvez. 4-17 is approaching… let the carnage begin."
Police said they searched Costas' house and found documents inside his backpack. He had been planning a Columbine massacre since 9th grade and has most likely been bullied, police said.
"We do believe, based on his writing, he was a loner and felt like an outcast," Deal said.
Detectives said they are not sure if anyone else is involved with Costas.
Costas also wrote on Facebook, "Damn, 4/17/12 is gonna be a day to remember. Dat day will bring joy to me and sadness to otherz."
Detectives said he was so intrigued with the Columbine massacre, that he even planned his event three days before the Columbine anniversary.
"It was disturbing. The fact that he drew a comparison and respected the individuals who conducted the Columbine massacre," Deal said.
WFTV spoke to a student, who got one of the threatening messages. That student said she didn’t even know Emmanuel Costas.
“He was always like why aren’t you replying to my messages,” said Lake Brantley High School student Jessica Ross.
She said he threatened her with instant messages on Facebook. Messages like “you will not survive, nbk (natural born killer) will strike.”
Ross said she had seen the threats sent to her but said she didn’t actually know Costas so she never replied. But Wednesday, she saw him on the news and made the connection to his messages.
“I was in shock because I don’t know him, and I am like I am not on the list because I don’t even know him, I saw the messages, you will not survive, that is just scary,” said Ross.
The superintendent said Costas will be suspended and he will recommend expulsion.
WFTV saw Costas' father with him for his first appearance, but was not there to support him. Costas father was in court on drug charges, WFTV learned.
Costas was transported to the Seminole County jail where he is being held with no bond, police said.
WFTV has covered several high-profile cases of plots involving deadly violence at schools.
Last August, a Tampa teenager was caught plotting a school shooting that he claimed would be worse than Columbine. Police found several guns at his home.
And just a few months before that a teenager was arrested for a plot to set off bombs at Eau Gallie High School in Melbourne. Police said that teenager had instructions on how to make bombs, including the supplies to make napalm.
WFTV