Elizabeth Lecron, 24, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court
in Toledo to one count of conspiracy to provide material support or resources
to terrorists and one count transporting explosives in interstate commerce.
Her co-conspirator, Vincent Armstrong, pleaded guilty
earlier this month to one count of conspiracy to transport or receive an
explosive with intent to kill, injure, or intimidate any individual, and
maliciously damage or destroy by fire or explosive.
“This defendant has admitted to plotting a terrorist attack
in downtown Toledo,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “She purchased a
shotgun, black powder, screws and other items for the purpose of launching
mass-casualty attacks. For years we have used this statute to prosecute those
who supported our enemies abroad, and are gratified we are able to use it to
hold accountable people who planned to attack our neighbors, regardless of ideology.”
"Elizabeth Lecron has accepted responsibility for
planning and obtaining weapons and explosive components as preparation to
conduct a mass shooting,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Eric B. Smith said. “The
two recent mass shootings that took 29 lives remind us that without the
vigilance of the citizen that alerted law enforcement of Lecron and Armstrong's
desire to kill, Toledo could have been the site of a massacre. Law enforcement urges the public to report suspicious,
concerning behavior - see something, say something."
Toledo Police Chief George Kral said: “This week should show
all Ohioans the threats that are ever present in our communities. With this
plea, a dangerous potential mass murderer will be off our streets. Our citizens
have to be a part of the solution. I strongly encourage people to report
suspicious behavior to law enforcement. It quite honestly could be a matter of
life or death.”
According to the plea agreement and other documents filed in
the case:
Lecron conspired with Armstrong from April 2018 through
December 10, 2018. The two met in February 2018, started dating a few months
later and moved in together at residence in Toledo. Shortly after meeting,
Lecron expressed her interest in mass murderers in introduced Armstrong to the
“True Crime Community” or TCC. Lecron allegedly engaged with members of the
community via Tumblr, under the username “ligaturemarkings” and
“charlestonchurchmiracle.” Armstrong joined the Tumblr TCC community with the
username “societysheretic.”
Lecron routinely posted items about the Columbine High
School shooters and the Charleston church shooter. Armstrong and Lecron
privately discussed committing their own mass murder in the Toledo area. They
referred to the attack as “D-Day” and discussed using guns and explosives.
Armstrong owned an AK-47 while Lecron purchased a shotgun with Armstrong. Both
guns were to be used in the attack and Lecron and Armstrong went to the
shooting range to practice their firearm skills.
Lecron showed Armstrong a web site that had detailed
instructions on how to make improvised bombs they intended to use during the
attack. The two agreed to build a pipe bomb. Armstong purchased end caps from a
local hardware store and they discussed the additional parts they needed to buy
to build the pipe bomb.
The pair agreed what to wear during the attacks, looking to
emulate the Columbine shooters. Lecron purchased combat boots that she felt
would not slip on all the blood during the attack, as well as a t-shirt that
read “False Prophet.”
They discussed numerous possible targets for the attack and
settled on a bar in downtown Toledo.
Lecon wrote about “D-Day” in her journal. In a journal entry
dated June 5, 2018, she wrote that visiting friends that weekend was
exhausting, but that “D-Day will be my salvation.”
Lecron and Armstrong flew to Denver in August 2018 to visit
sights related to the shooting at Columbine High School. Lecron posted that
their next trip would be to Charleston to visit “the church.”
Law enforcement agents executed search warrants on Armstrong
and Lecron’s house and vehicles on December 10, 2018. The trunk of Armstrong’s
vehicle contained a duffel bag with a tactical vest with two loaded magazines
for an AK-47, two loaded magazines for a pistol, a gas mask and printed
instructions on how to construct various bombs. In the house, law enforcement
found an AK-47, two shotguns (including the one purchased by Lecron), two
handguns and ammunition.
Additionally, Lecron on December 8, 2018, purchased two
pounds of Hodgdon Triple Seven Muzzleloading Propellant from a retailer in
Rossford, Ohio. She then purchased 665 screws from another retailer nearby. She
then gave the items to a confidential human source with whom she began
communicating in August 2018 about mass shootings via the Tumblr TCC group.
On September 11, 2018, Lecron, the confidential source and
two undercover agents discussed conducting a bomb attack. Lecron said: “I want
to get out there. I want to like, you know, be part of it, you know. I want to
help any way I can. I’ve never had an in to this sort of thing so now that I do
I just want to do anything I can.” When asked if she had any concerns about
human casualties, Lecron replied: “Take them out. I don’t really feel any type
of way for that…I’m here to send a message and get the job done…if they are in
the way of the explosion, they’re probably part of the problem so maybe it’s
for the best.”
On December 4, 2018, the confidential source called Lecron
asking for help in a plan to bomb a pipeline in Georgia. The source asked
Lecron to purchase black powder. Lecron replied: “Absolutely…Thank you so much.
Hell yeah. This is exactly what I wanted to do.”
She purchased the black powder and screws four days later
and delivered them to the confidential source.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task
Force, which is comprised of members of the FBI, Homeland Security
Investigations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Ohio State Highway Patrol
and Toledo Police Department, investigated the case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant
U.S. Attorneys Michael Freeman, Michelle Baeppler and Tracey Tangeman.
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