Local teen who planned school shooting pleads guilty

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CHARDON , Ohio (WJW) — A 19-year-old charged with bringing a handgun to West Geauga High School and planning a school shooting has pleaded guilty.

Brandon M. Morrissette, 19, of Lyndhurst , pleaded guilty last week to felony counts of attempted aggravated murder and illegal possession of a deadly weapon in a school safety zone. The firearm was forfeited.

As part of his plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed his third count of inducing panic, as well as specifications on the other two counts alleging the crimes were committed with a firearm and inside a school safety zone.

A high school student on Monday, April 3, found a bullet in a bathroom and alerted the school’s resource officer, according to authorities . Authorities later found an unloaded 9-millimeter Smith & Wesson Model 910 in Morrissette’s backpack, and he was arrested. West Geauga students were made to shelter in place.

Morrissette admitted to planning to shoot multiple students using the gun in his backpack, Chester Township Police Chief Craig Young said at a media briefing at the time.

Morrissette pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity last May . But in November, after undergoing court-ordered psychological evaluations, he reverted his plea to not guilty and the case moved forward.

Attorneys arrived at an agreement for Morrissette’s guilty plea last week. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Morrissette continues to be held without bond. The judge has ordered a pre-sentence investigation.

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