Students sign Bible for Schallenberger

By Kelly Gillespie
Reporter
Published: May 15, 2008

Chesterfield High School students are reaching out to the teen accused of planning to kill them in a suicide bombing at the school.

Ryan Schallenberger, 18, of Mount Croghan was arrested April 19 and is facing federal charges of attempting to use explosives on a building that gets federal funding; using interstate commerce to obtain explosives to be used against people and property; and attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction, which carries a possible life sentence.

A Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agent testified that Schallenberger told deputies during an interview all he wanted to do is die, go to heaven and, when he got there, kill Jesus.

But forgiveness and encouragement is the message several of Schallenberger’s classmates are hoping to get across to him.

He can find it all inside a Bible they signed for him.

It’s something 4th Circuit Solicitor Jay Hodge said he never expected to be in charge of delivering to the suspect.

“A mother called and said some of the children at Chesterfield High had gotten together and bought a Bible and asked me to see that it was given to Ryan Schallenberger,” Hodge said.

Chesterfield High senior Parker Anderson initially brought the Bible to school.

“It was kind of me and my mother’s idea. She mentioned it to me, and I thought about it for a day or two ...,” he said. “When we wrote in it, we wrote stuff like ‘God loves you no matter what unconditionally,’ stuff like that.

Anderson said getting fellow students to sign the Bible for Schallenberger wasn’t an easy task.

“A couple of them at school, they’re still kind of iffy about it,” he said. “When it comes down to it, we did it, we gave it to him.”

Anderson said he and his fellow students who signed the Bible hope this demonstration of compassion could change everything for Schallenberger.

“If he doesn’t believe in God, maybe he’ll take the time and read it, and it will change his life,” Anderson said.

Hodge said he’s impressed by the students’ gesture.

“I think it’s important when your classmates, especially the classmates who you threaten to harm, get together and want to do something like this,” he said.

Authorities have said Schallenberger’s parents called police because he had ordered ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer used as in the deadly Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. After authorities were alerted, deputies searched Schallenberger’s home and seized several items, including a hate-filled journal lauding the Columbine killers and an audiotape he left to be played after his death.

Schallenberger also is charged by the state with possession of incendiary devices, Hodge said. If convicted, he faces two to 15 years in prison.

The charge will be taken to the grand jury Thursday, Hodge said.

U.S. Magistrate Thomas E. Rogers has not said whether he will uphold or overturn his April 30 decision to have Schallenberger evaluated by a psychiatrist in a federal facility.