Man who planned Somerset mass shooting sentenced to life
Reed Wischhusen from Wick St Lawrence wanted to attack his old school and Avon and Somerset Police
Last updated 12th Jan 2024
A North Somerset man, who planned to carry out a mass shooting and bombing attack at his old school and Avon and Somerset Police headquarters, has been sentenced to life - with a minimum term of 11 years in prsison.
Reed Wischhusen (32) from Wick St Lawrence near Weston Super Mare was found guilty in October of having an explosive substance with intent to endanger life, possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, possessing ammunition with intent to endanger life and possessing a prohibited firearm without a certificate, after a trial at Bristol Crown Court.
He had previously admitted possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, possessing a prohibited firearm and possessing ammunition without a firearm certificate.
WATCH: Our video report from the time Wischhusen was found guilty. Some may find it's contents distressing
Wischhusen was visited by police in November 2022 because of intelligence suggesting he was converting blank firing guns into lethal weapons.
During a search of his home officers found multiple guns, a full police uniform including body armour and the ingredients to make bombs.
During that search he was shot by armed police after pointing a pistol at officers and was formally arrested after spending four months in hospital recovering.
Subsequent searches then also found a document on his computer titled "Revenge", in which Wischhusen laid out plans to kill at least 10 people in an attack spanning across Weston Super Mare and Portishead.
The case
During the course of a two week trial at Bristol Crown Court it was revealed that over a "sustained period" of many years, Wischhusen compiled an "armoury" of homemade weapons including pistols, sub-machine guns and a shotgun, as well as ammunition, bombs, grenades and poison.
The prosecution used diary entries written by Wischhusen to argue he has a fascination with mass shootings and infamous killers including Dunblane attacker Thomas Hamilton and wanted to carry out an attack of his own big enough to make international headlines, on people he felt had wronged him.
The jury were read a 1,700 word document written by Wischhusen in which he said: "Revenge is on my mind, it's a powerful motivator."
Jurors heard phase one of Wischhusen's alleged plan was to kill 10 people using a converted pistol with a silencer, while wearing disguised clothing and a wig.
Prosecution barrister Jonathan Rees KC told jurors the defendant had listed ex-classmates, teachers and police staff, who he believed had wronged him in the past, as targets.
He would then walk into his old school, Priory School, in Worle, to shoot and kill teachers and throw pipe bombs before evading police.
The attack would culminate, Wischhusen wrote, with a siege on Avon and Somerset Police headquarters in Portishead, where he would either plant and detonate pressure cooker bombs before opening fire on staff with sub-machine guns or ambush officers and enter the building to let off explosives, before shooting himself.
In his defence Wischhusen did not deny writing the document, but insisted it was all a fantasy written purely for his own amusement.
Police search Wischhusen's home
Five members of police staff, including two armed and two unarmed officers, visited Wischhusen's home on 28 November 2022 having received intelligence he might be converting blank firing guns into lethal weapons.
During the trial we heard officers arrived to find the house dirty and smelly and having been invited inside found several guns, as well as body armour and a deactivated hand grenade.
The two firearms officers known as P3 and L4 decided a full search was needed and Wischhusen would need to be arrested, at which point the defendant asked to go to the toilet.
Shortly afterwards a gunshot rang out from the bathroom and Wischhusen emerged with a pistol pointed at officers, leading them to shoot him three times.
Guns found in the home of Reed Wischhusen
Reed Wischhusen dressed in police uniform