Teen Plotters Arrested

Two Long Island teens have been accused of extensively researching how to make bombs and planning to buy guns in order to murder teachers and students at a Suffolk County high school.  Christopher Franko, a 17-year-old former Connetquot High School student from Bohemia, and his 16-year-old girlfriend and partner in crime, Dana Saltzman, have been arrested for conspiracy.  They both claim innocence.  Christopher left Connetquot High and graduated from a special-ed program. Dana is still enrolled in that BOCES program; she is from Commack.  The police were tipped off by Christopher's social worker.

The Suffolk police department says they have evidence from the girl's computer and cellphone, that the teens searched explosives and bomb-making websites and texted each other plans to purchase guns and murder people.  One text that Christopher sent was "May we kill as many as possible and teach these bastards a lesson,".  Their plans included which school entrance they would use in order to maximize victims; they planned to start shooting near the English classrooms, because there are usually more students in that area.  Christopher will turn 18 on June 8th and would have been able to purchase a gun legally.  They planned to mow down people at the high school on June 10th.  Both teens are being tried as adults, even though they are both minors. 

Christopher had also planned a failed attack against his high school three years ago with his friend Michael McDonough.  Christopher pled guilty at that time and was sentenced to one year in juvenile detention. 

Dana has been released and Christopher is being held without bail.  Nancy Franko, Chris' mother, says things are not as they seem.


info from: nypost.com, AP, WCBS, Newsday

Teen Plotters Arrested