A Near Miss in Oklahoma, and Another Lesson No One Will Learn

Tecumseh, Oklahoma, spent the past week in panic mode after authorities arrested a Tecumseh High School freshman for allegedly plotting a shooting. The case began with a social media post, from a month ago, that showed the suspect posing with a weapon inside a school bathroom. That one detail alone should be enough to make this more than an online-threat story. It means the student physically brought a weapon onto campus, stood in the bathroom, took pictures, and then uploaded them without anyone noticing. That’s not digital speech. That’s preparation.

Law enforcement claims they acted quickly once the FBI forwarded the post, but “quickly” apparently means waiting four weeks before anyone bothered to track the kid down. The same agencies now patting themselves on the back for preventing a tragedy are the ones who missed a photo taken inside school property. A photo that had been circulating for nearly thirty days. If that’s rapid response, I’d hate to see what slow looks like.

After his arrest, the student reportedly admitted that he wanted to shoot up the school. He also told investigators that he had been in communication with at least two others, one in another state and one in another country, who were making similar plans. Authorities hinted that the communication may have taken place on Discord, which tracks with what we’ve seen from other incidents. Once again, it appears we’re dealing with teenagers drifting into what they think is the edgy “true crime community” or “Columbiner” subculture. People still want to pretend that’s not a thing. It absolutely is, and this case is just more proof.

Parents in the community demanded action, which is understandable when you find out your kid spent the day walking through a building that may have been seconds away from becoming a crime scene. But “action” didn’t mean addressing how kids keep getting their hands on weapons. It meant metal detectors and officers in hallways. More surveillance, not fewer guns. That tells you exactly where the cultural line is drawn.

Police also acknowledged receiving other photos of other local students posing with guns. Kids sticking pistols in waistbands and flexing on camera. After interviewing them, officials decided they were “not involved” and “not a threat.” Let’s think about that for a moment. We’re now at a point where children brandishing firearms isn’t considered inherently alarming unless they also submit written intent paperwork in triplicate. The bar for being labeled dangerous is apparently higher than actually holding a weapon.

And yes, authorities later clarified that the gun in the bathroom photo was a BB gun. That changes nothing. We’ve seen more than one student shot and killed by police for holding a pellet gun. Officers don’t stop to ask about air pressure classification when they see a barrel pointed their way. Parents don’t stop mourning because the weapon was technically recreational.

What makes this story especially bleak is that there isn’t a single protagonist. The student is culpable. The parents who missed their own kids broadcasting threats are culpable. The police bragging about month-old activity checks are culpable. The community demanding protection but refusing introspection is culpable. Nearly everyone in this chain did something wrong or failed to do something right.

It’s easy to look at a case like this and feel relieved that no blood was spilled. But relief without reflection is how we guarantee a repeat performance. This wasn’t just a close call. It was a mirror. And a lot of people should be ashamed of what it showed.

(Sources)