John LaDue, the Minnesota teenager whose chilling plot to unleash a massacre at his former high school was foiled by police, has been sentenced to life in prison for a murder committed during his preparations. The now-24-year-old will become eligible for parole in 25 years.
The sentencing brings a grim close to a case that horrified the community of Waseca, Minnesota, a decade ago. LaDue was just 17 years old when authorities discovered his elaborate plan to detonate bombs at Waseca High School before shooting survivors.
A Chilling Plot Uncovered
LaDue's scheme was thwarted in April 2014 when a concerned citizen reported a suspicious individual entering a storage unit. Police discovered a veritable arsenal inside: pipe bombs, pressure cooker bombs, molotov cocktails, firearms, and over 4,000 rounds of ammunition.
During interrogations, LaDue coldly detailed his intentions to kill his family before proceeding to the school to carry out one of the deadliest school attacks in US history.
A Fatal Rehearsal
The murder charge stems from the killing of 19-year-old Francisco Hernandez, an aspiring musician. Prosecutors stated that LaDue shot Hernandez in the head as a "dry run" for his larger planned attack. Hernandez's body was discovered in a wooded area in Janesville.
LaDue pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in September 2023. In a recent hearing, a Waseca County judge delivered the life sentence, acknowledging the calculated and premeditated nature of the crime.
A Life Sentence and a Community's Recovery
While the sentence offers a measure of justice, the community of Waseca continues to grapple with the trauma of what was narrowly prevented and the tragedy of what occurred. The case continues to raise difficult questions about juvenile justice, mental health intervention, and the signs of potential violence.
