Former Oregon school guard accused of plotting “mass casualty event”, police say



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Kristopher Clay, 24, is being held in Jackson County Jail on $ 2 million bail following his first hearing Thursday.

The charges also include an attempted first-degree assault, two counts of unlawful use of a weapon and tampering with physical evidence, according to a press release from the Medford Police Department.

CNN’s attempts to contact Clay were unsuccessful. We don’t know if he has a lawyer.

Clay arrived in the lobby of the MPD police station on July 20 and told an officer he had homicidal thoughts with the intention of executing them, according to the press release.

As Clay was taken to the behavioral health unit of a hospital on remand – where he would remain until his arrest on Wednesday – police obtained search warrants for three residences. Medford Police said they discovered ammunition, firearms, tactical equipment and written documents which MPD Lieutenant Mike Budreau called “newspapers, if you will, or manifestos” at a conference of press Thursday afternoon.

“High school was at least one of the targets,” Budreau said. “There were others.

Clay has no known criminal convictions, according to the MPD statement. He was arrested in 2019 on suspicion of disorderly conduct, according to Budreau, but no charges have been filed in the case.

Medford Police said he was prohibited from legally owning firearms because a judge determined in 2019 that he had a mental illness. They did not provide details on how Clay allegedly obtained the weapons, which Budreau described as guns.

Clay had been a guard at South Medford High School since February and was fired, according to Medford School District spokeswoman Natalie Hurd. Superintendent Bret Champion said Clay had no red flags during a criminal background check, drug test and reference check, but their hiring process failed. ‘did not include a mental health check.

“We’re going to look at the process and see where there are potential gaps,” Champion said.

Budreau said he was not aware of another case in the town one person visited when they allegedly made such violent plans.

“Sometimes people indicate that they are a danger to others, but never at this point,” Budreau said.

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