On Tuesday we told you about a person called Margaret Anderson. Anderson, 19, allegedly made a threat to harm students at the Norwalk Community School District and was charged with a threat of terrorism.
Margaret Anderson is a female who identifies as “Max,” according to Warren County Attorney Doug Eichholz. The Norwalk Police Department also confirmed over the phone on Tuesday that Anderson is transgender.
According to the criminal complaint, Anderson made a statement to her therapist on Sept. 10 that she had thoughts of wanting to take a gun to Oviatt Elementary School in Norwalk at 11 a.m. to the cafeteria and shoot children.
According to the complaint, when asked why 11 a.m., Anderson responded that’s when the children would be there.
The therapist reported the statements to the Des Moines Police Department. Anderson was also admitted to Iowa Lutheran Hospital due to the thoughts/statements.
During an interview at Lutheran with law enforcement, Anderson said she had been having thoughts of shooting up a school, mall or other store. Anderson said she had thoughts of shooting up Norwalk High School, Middle School and Oviatt Elementary. She called the thoughts “intrusive.”
According to the complaint, Anderson first had the thoughts a year ago and they are getting worse. The ideation of school violence has increased to the point of researching how to carry out the act, according to the complaint. Anderson has also researched school shootings as well as how to acquire a gun to complete the act, according to the criminal complaint.
Anderson was released from custody on Tuesday to the supervision of the Iowa Department of Corrections through pretrial release. Anderson is subject to house arrest via GPS monitoring. She also is subject to a no-contact order with the Norwalk Community School District, its properties and employees.
