Teen praised for reporting overheard mass shooting plans to father who then alerted Ohio police

“Like I’ve said before: See something, say something, hear something, say something,” Mariemont Chief of Police Richard Hines said. “If we hadn’t gotten the tip, I think we would have had a very bad situation”

By Joanna Putman
Police1

CINCINNATI — A high school student is being praised for reporting mass shooting plans he overheard, WXIX reported.

The teen called his father, Zach Swallen, on Feb. 7 to tell him that he overheard a boy in his class talking about executing a mass shooting, according to the report. Swallen then called the police.

Investigators found that the 14-year-old did have a detailed mass shooting plan with a hit list, according to the report.

“[My son] stood up, and that’s heroic of him, and I’m so proud of him, and I’ve always taught him since he was a little guy to protect your peers, to help people to be nice people, to love people,” Swallen told WXIX.

The 14-year-old has been charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated murder, according to the report.

“It’s very admirable that [the teen who reported the plans] did that, and like I’ve said before: See something, say something, hear something, say something,” Mariemont Chief of Police Richard Hines told WXIX. “If we hadn’t gotten the tip, I think we would have had a very bad situation.”