Authorities say Texas woman foiled grandson's planned mass shooting

Last month, a woman in Texas potentially stopped a mass shooting after notifying authorities of threats allegedly made by her grandson, the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Northern District of Texas announced Monday.

In a press release, the office said 19-year-old William Patrick Williams of Lubbock allegedly told his grandmother he purchased an AK-47 rifle and wanted to "shoot up" a hotel and "commit suicide by cop." Fearful that he would hurt himself and others, she was able to get Williams to a local hospital.

Williams had rented a hotel room, and police officers found a rifle, 17 loaded magazines, and several knives inside, the U.S. attorney's office said. Federal agents later discovered that Williams used an old address on the firearms transaction form he filled out when buying the rifle, and he was arrested Thursday on suspicion of making false statements to a firearms dealer. If convicted, Williams could face up to five years in federal prison.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox said a tragedy was averted and the grandmother "saved lives by interrupting this plot." She also encouraged anyone who suspects a friend or relative is planning violence against themselves or others to "seek help immediately by calling law enforcement."