A 19-year-old recent graduate from Okeechobee High School, Henry Horton IV, was pulled over by the police due to a faulty headlight on his truck. During the stop, officers stumbled upon handwritten notes outlining disturbing plans to commit mass killings at various locations, including Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
Horton, a resident of Okeechobee, was subsequently arrested by Palm Beach County Sheriff’s detectives for his alleged intentions. According to the probable cause affidavit, he had conducted reconnaissance at two Parkland locations, including the site of the tragic 2018 school massacre at Stoneman Douglas High.
When questioned about targeting that particular school, Horton chillingly responded that he wanted attention or fame.
Presently, Horton faces charges of written threats to kill or cause harm. He is being held in the Palm Beach County jail with a bond set at $1 million. If released, he will be subjected to house arrest with electronic monitoring.
The investigation into Horton's disturbing plans began when Jupiter police officers pulled him over on the night of September 19 due to a malfunctioning headlight. During a search of his vehicle to which Horton consented, officers discovered handwritten documents detailing plans to acquire firearms and use them to carry out mass killings at Okeechobee High School, along with a bong containing burnt residue and three filet knives.
Horton, opting to speak with the officers without legal representation, went on to reveal his gruesome intentions. He disclosed plans to target 15 individuals at his former high school, Okeechobee High, on his 22nd birthday in 2026, including an administrator. He further discussed his intention to embark on a stabbing spree at a Miami church, with the goal of provoking law enforcement to kill him.
Horton acknowledged struggling with thoughts of mass violence and disclosed that he had voluntarily sought mental health evaluation at a facility in Virginia due to similar concerns.
Under Florida’s Baker Act, which allows individuals believed to pose a threat to themselves or others to be held for up to 72 hours, Horton was taken into custody and transported to JFK North Hospital in West Palm Beach for a mental health evaluation.
During his time at the facility, he confessed to planning reconnaissance for an attack at the El Rey church in Miami, fueled by feelings of violence resulting from a dispute with his stepmother. Additionally, a manifesto he had written was discovered in his truck.
Horton admitted to conducting reconnaissance at a church in Parkland near Stoneman Douglas High, and his truck was spotted in the area on September 11. He had also visited the Parkland high school itself for reconnaissance, observing people outside on a school day.
Further evidence was found on his phone, including notes detailing different mass killing plans and Google searches related to acquiring firearms. In messages with a friend, Horton revealed plans to harm his stepmother, expressing frustration about being kicked out of his home for sharing his disturbing thoughts.
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