COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON – A terrifying and meticulously planned attack at a Washington shopping mall was narrowly prevented last month, thanks to a tip and rapid action by the FBI and local law enforcement.
On May 22, 2025, deputies from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office arrested a local teenager accused of plotting a mass attack at Three Rivers Mall in Kelso, Washington—about 50 miles north of Portland, just off I-5.
According to the FBI Portland Field Office, the bureau received a tip on May 19 about disturbing online chatter. What they uncovered was a detailed plan involving an improvised chlorine bomb and a shooting spree designed to cause maximum panic and destruction.
“This plot was as serious as it gets,” said FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Doug Olson. “We, along with our partners, moved swiftly to interrupt this violent plan and to protect our community.”
The teen, whose name has not been released due to age and ongoing legal proceedings, was reportedly under court-authorized surveillance before the arrest. The FBI said the suspect was influenced by nihilistic, violent extremist ideology and had shared their plans in online forums.
As reported by The Oregonian, the suspect created annotated schematics of the mall, plotted a route for the attack, and even detailed the clothing they would wear. The plan was to set off a chlorine-based bomb inside the mall to incite chaos, then open fire on patrons exiting the movie theater, before ultimately committing suicide at a predetermined location inside the building.
When authorities searched the suspect’s property, they seized three handguns, multiple boxes of ammunition, four knives, five digital devices, and other materials connected to the plot.
The Columbia County District Attorney’s Office is now prosecuting the case.
The FBI is urging parents to speak with their children about online safety and to report any suspicious activity—especially extremist rhetoric or violent threats shared in digital spaces.
This story is still developing, and it’s a chilling reminder of how quickly real threats can escalate—and how important community awareness and timely tips can be in stopping them.
