Brother of Riverland 'massacre plot' accused in 'disbelief'
The brother of one of two Riverland teens accused of plotting a school massacre has told of his family's shock and disbelief.
The teen says despite living in the same house, he never once became suspicious of the 18-year-old's activities.
"It was pretty much a sense of disbelief and shock I guess," he told 7 News.
"You don't think something like that could happen in this community let alone your own family."
It has been just over three weeks since police raided their family's home.
The 18-year-old's loved ones could never have imagined the horrific crimes he would be accused of.
He was allegedly plotting with his 16-year-old friend to go on a shooting rampage at the high school they used to attend, targeting students and teachers.
"It's really hard to put your mind around it, to imagine something like that on such a scale," the brother said.
Police claim the pair had stockpiled a frightening arsenal of weapons, including knives and bomb making equipment seized from the 16-year-old's home earlier this month.
"They're using metal detectors with gloves on, taking all sorts of stuff," a neighbour of the family said.
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It will be alleged the teens were inspired by the 1999 Columbine High School massacre where two teens murdered 12 students and a teacher.
"There was never anything to suggest anything was ever going on," the teen's brother said.
However, the 18-year-old's Facebook page could hold a potential clue.
Just 10 weeks ago he posted song lyrics.
"My mind was a fortress you knew how to rupture. Flanking the trenches and storming my bunker," the lyrcis read.
At the time it seemed unremarkable until a friend posted a chilling reply.
"Shooting up schools, putting kids in their slumber. Which gun should I choose, oh how I wonder," the reply reads.
Police are investigating whether the exchange is proof he'd been discussing the plot with friends long before his arrest.
While the 16-year-old's family has accused police of fabricating the allegations, the 18-year-old's brother has actually praised officers for their work on the case.
He's hoping to visit his brother in prison soon.
"You've got to stand by your family as much as you can. Sometimes it can be a very, very hard thing to do," the brother said.
