A former student has been charged with two counts of criminal attempt to commit murder in connection to threats targeting Colorado Springs schools.
Lily Whitworth, 19, faces multiple charges following an investigation into threats involving schools in Colorado Springs Academy District 20, according to the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
On March 31, a deputy with the Elbert County Sheriff’s Office was sent to 13915 Double Tree Ranch Circle in Elbert on a report of a disturbance and that the suspect had threatened to “shoot up a school.”
Chrysann Whitworth, 21, the suspect’s sister, greeted a deputy at the residence and said that her sister was upstairs and “was very upset” and had punched holes in the walls, according to an arrest affidavit.
Deputy Mike Watters, in the affidavit, described the residence as being cluttered and filled with trash. Whitworth was contacted in her room, which was also in a state of disarray. The suspect had been sleeping, and remained drowsy as Watters asked questions.
Whitworth told Watters she had attended Timberview Middle School, in Colorado Springs, according to the affidavit. When asked whether the alleged threat was against Timberview, Whitworth shook her head in the affirmative. When asked why she answered “No specific reason.”
The affidavit described Whitworth as having suicidal ideations and that she had been drinking prior to the deputy arriving at the residence.
Whitworth allegedly had been planning the “school shooting” for “a month or two,” according to the affidavit, which stated that “other targets were churches.”
The suspect had been working on a “manifesto,” according to the affidavit. Its contents included:
A list of firearms and how to 3D print them.
Detailed lists of numerous people to be killed.
Details on creating improvised explosive devices.
A list of targets including Timberview, Prairie Hills Elementary (Colorado Springs) and Pine Creek High School.
A dry-erase board found in the residence had what appeared to be a drawing of a school floor plan with floors labeled — “bottom floor and second floor,” the affidavit said.
Two notebooks found in the residence included “further floor plans,” a drawing of a clock to use as a detonation device, and a list of names of other school shooters and Whitworth’s apparent opinion of them.
Whitworth is also charged with criminal mischief, menacing, and interference with staff, faculty, or students of educational institutions.
She is being held on $75,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled May 5.
Sign up to get crime news sent straight to your inbox each day.
Editor’s note: This article was updated at 4:31 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 9, 2023, to correct the spelling of Lily Whitworth’s name. An incorrect spelling was provided by a source.
