Indiana Teen Receives 20-Year Sentence for Plotting School Shooting

Trinity Shockley has received her sentence after she was convicted of plotting a mass shooting at an Indiana high school earlier this year.

Shockley, 19, was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison with eight years suspended after she pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder during a court hearing on November 24. Her sentence will be followed by five years of probation, according to online court records.

During her trial, Shockley emotionally apologized to her intended target and the community. “I am so sorry I put you in that position of fear,” she said, according to WFYI-FM. Additionally, Shockley said that her mental health has improved now that she’s surrounded by “people that care about me.”

Shockley was arrested after the FBI’s Sandy Hook tip line was alerted by her friend, who claimed she was planning to commit a mass shooting at Mooresville High School on February 14, 2025.

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The friend claimed that Shockley “admired” Nikolas Cruz, who was behind the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in 2018. The tipster also claimed that Shockley, who was a high school senior at the time, had access to an AR-15 and ordered a bulletproof vest.

During the trial, Shockley’s attorney, Joseph Gaunt, claimed that his client never actually planned to go through with the shooting. “She knew she couldn’t do it, but she kept talking about it,” he said, according to WFYI-FM. “That’s what makes this case hard.”

Shockley also shared that she was the victim of bullying during the trial. She claimed she tried to seek mental health help around the time she shared her plans for the shooting, though was denied due to her age.

Following the sentencing, Morgan County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Cassie Mellady said she believed the ruling was a “fair outcome.”

“In this case, there was a significant amount of planning that was involved, so I tried to match the plea agreement to that,” Mellady added, per WTHR.

The FBI Indianapolis Office also issued a statement via social media following the sentencing.

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“The FBI takes every threat to our schools seriously, and today’s sentencing of Trinity Shockley reflects the very real consequences for anyone who intends to carry out violence against our communities,” the statement read. “In this case, a tip submitted to the Sandy Hook Promise ‘Say Something’ line was quickly relayed to the FBI, allowing us to coordinate immediately with the Mooresville Police Department. Their swift response ensured this threat was stopped before anyone was harmed.”

The statement continued, “This case is a powerful reminder that when the public speaks up, lives can be saved. We are grateful for the partnership of the Mooresville Police Department and for the individual who reported their concerns.”