Teen Joshua Couch charged with terrorist threat against high school

A 17-year-old is currently in jail for allegedly making terrorist threats toward his high school.

That school was New Manchester High School in Douglas County.

Investigators told Channel 2's Erin Coleman that the accused student, Joshua Couch, had been formulating a plan to attack his high school using chemicals and had been researching his plan for weeks.

"When I heard about it I honestly was shocked and surprised," student Kristen Pender said.

Couch is currently in the Douglas County Jail, charged with criminal attempt to commit an act of terrorism.

"Teachers were like, 'Watch out for stuff like that.' They were having serious conversations about it," Pender said.

"I think somebody was saying that he was saying stuff, so, I'm not surprised he got caught," student Harry Pickney said.

Investigators said Couch told another student and a family member about what he planned to do at the high school and to law enforcement.

When deputies executed two search warrants, they found he'd been doing Inteet searches on hazardous materials, using chemicals like cyanide, according to reports.

"How do you make a poison gas, how do you make a gun, different things like that," said Maj. Tommy Wheeler with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office, describing the searches they found on Couch's computer.

New Manchester High School in Douglas County

Wheeler said investigators recovered evidence, although they wouldn't talk specifics about what they found.

"We did find some evidence that at least one overt act was performed which is why he's charged with criminal attempt," Wheeler said.

Coleman went toCouch's home in a quiet neighborhood several miles away from the school but no one was there.

"He's the stepson of one of the cafeteria ladies, that's what I've heard about it," Pender said.

Students say they're just happy officers acted quickly.

"I trust the police that what they're doing is the right thing," Pickney said.

The Judge denied bond for Couch. Investigators said none of the Inteet research happened on school property.