A teenager who ‘idolised’ the killers behind the Columbine High School massacre and wanted to carry out a mass shooting at his own school has been locked up for six years.
Felix Winter was said to be obsessed with the deadly US shooting, which resulted in the murder of 13 students and a teacher during the tragic incident in Colorado in 1999.
He repeatedly spoke about doing the same at his own Edinburgh secondary school, describing the ‘Doomsday’ when he would ‘clear it out’.
But a social media photograph of Winter in full combat-gear and carrying an imitation gun while at school caused panic among pupils and parents, and caught the attention of police in the summer of 2023.
Winter had already been referred to a UK-wide programme designed to stop individuals becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.
It emerged he had been ‘radicalised’ having spent more than 1,000 hours in contact with an extremist pro-Nazi Discord group.
The now 18-year-old – who it was previously heard is transgender – appeared back in the dock at the High Court in Glasgow today.
He pleaded guilty in February to a breach of the peace and a charge under the Terrorism Act.
Felix Winter, 18, who ‘idolised’ the killers behind the Columbine High School massacre and wanted to carry out a mass shooting at his own school has been locked up for six years
Glasgow High Court heard that Winter had been ‘radicalised’ having spent more than 1,000 hours in contact with an extremist pro-Nazi Discord group
Winter was said to be obsessed with the deadly Columbine High School shooting in 1999
The crimes spanned between June 2022 and July 2023.
Winter’s lawyer had urged Lord Arthurson to consider a strict alternative to custody citing a number of factors including to allow him to continue getting the help he needs.
But the judge ruled that out in his sentencing remarks, explaining that Winter appeared to be ‘progressing to the brink of a mass school shooting’.
Prosecutor Greg Farrell earlier told how on June 20, 2023, Winter had turned up at school wearing boots as well as cargo trousers and had brought with him a military tactical vest and helmet.
Mr Farrell: ‘He was later seen at the school carrying an imitation firearm while wearing the vest and helmet.
‘A photograph was circulated on social media. It was taken and published without his knowledge.
‘The image provoked a considerable degree of fear and alarm among pupils and parents.
‘Police were advised by a parent who saw the image.’
Police officers and officials stand in front of Columbine High School in April, 1999, where 13 students and one teacher were killed
Students hug one another in the aftermath of the tragic school shooting, which was carried out by two former pupils
Officers went on to discover the boy had a TikTok account which had footage of him in black combat clothes as well as a skeleton mask.
Mr Farrell: ‘One piece of commentary referenced school shootings.’
The teenager was immediately suspended.
It emerged the vest and helmet were part of a costume for a short film he had been involved in for a drama class. He had been the ‘kidnapper’ and had used a ‘prop gun’.
Police however went on to take statements from other pupils who knew Winter.
Mr Farrell: ‘They provided information that the boy had exhibited a variety of alarming behaviours over a period of time.
‘The greatest concern was the suggestion he had divulged to various people a desire to carry out a school shooting similar to that which had taken place in 1999 at Columbine High School in Colorado in the USA.’
Classmates recalled how Winter ‘spoke excitedly and with considerable enthusiasm’ when he talked about Columbine and other school shootings.
He ‘sympathised’ with the pair behind it – Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris – and would copy how they had dressed.
One girl said he ‘idolised school shooters in America’.
Mr Farrell: ‘In November 2022, he told her how he would go about carrying out a school attack.
‘He explained that he would start on the second floor and that he would ‘clear it out’ using guns.
‘He would then move downstairs continuing to shoot until police arrived, at which point he would turn the gun on himself.’
Winter described a possible mass shooting at his school as ‘Doomsday’.
He said it would occur on April Fool’s Day or his last day of school.
Mr Farrell: ‘He spoke about setting up trip wires at fire exits and of placing “pipe bombs” at the school.’
He was said to be so ‘interested’ in Columbine that he stated he wanted to change his name ‘in an act of homage’ to Klebold.
Mr Farrell: ‘One pupil told police that (Winter) wore the same black trousers, trench coat, cap worn backwards and circular glasses as favoured by one of the Columbine pair.
‘He often made comments that he “looked like a school shooter”.’
Winter told another classmate that he would ‘place a bomb in every second classroom’.
He would then shoot people as they fled the building.
The teenager further openly chatted about the making of what were described as deadly ‘pressure cooker bombs’.
Winter further told one girl he met online that he wanted to carry out a shooting as he was being bullied and was ‘fed up’ being there.
His phone was described as being ‘full’ of photos and videos of shootings as well as others of Hitler and Nazi Germany.
The boy had further claimed ‘n*****s are good for nothing’ and that they ‘should be wiped out’.
The teenager was stopped by police under the Terrorism Act as he returned from holiday with his family on July 9, 2023.
A number of his electronic devices were seized. There were various files on a mobile phone, including about ‘homemade’ firearms and poisons.
The court heard he had 65 videos of Columbine and had added music which appeared to ‘glamourise’ the mass killing.
He had recorded another clip of him at his own school which seemed to ‘mimic the actions’ of the American shooters.
Winter was said to have ‘idolised’ the perpetrators behind the Columbine shootings. Pictured: Killers Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold seen weeks prior to the fatal shooting
Police also seized a journal in which the boy had made various sinister remarks.
One stated: ‘I can’t wait to hold my gun again in my gear. Hoping I’ll get a bomb…kills this time. Will be unstoppable.’
The hearing was told Winter had previously been referred to the Prevent counter-terrorism programme due to concerns.
The first – in November 2022 – was as a result of worries raised by fellow pupils.
The visit at the family home included a terrorism officer attending.
It was said this initial meeting appeared to ‘go well’ and that the boy ‘engaged’ with the police.
It was then decided at that time the involvement of Prevent would end.
However, the boy continued to openly discuss school shootings although no further action was taken.
The second referral was then made in June 2023 after the image of the boy in the combat gear at school was circulated online.
A probe – sparked by the deputy head teacher – had revealed ‘a catalogue of episodes’ of the boy displaying ‘a variety of alarming behaviour’.
The court heard a more recent concern was flagged by the college where the boy now attends of him allegedly remarking that he was ‘annoyed at getting caught’.
Winter was ‘a vulnerable young person’ with mental health issues, the court additionally heard.
Shelagh McCall KC, defending, said: ‘I say that his actions fall outside the definition of terrorism.
‘There is no evidence that the actions were for advancing such a case. The cause, in so far as there was one, was revenge for bullying.’
The advocate added any racist or right wing views stemmed from his contact with the online Discord group.
Miss McCall: ‘I invite the court to take the view that he was groomed by the online community.
‘The accused, at the time, did not understand the illegality or appreciate the fear and alarm that he was likely to cause with his behaviour.
‘There was reinforcement all day, every day from the Discord community.’
The KC stated Winter had since ‘significantly changed’. She said an alternative to custody would allow Winter to get the help he needs now rather than have to wait until he is released.
Winter was sentenced to six years in prison for terrorism offences.
