Geneva police aid in probe of foiled Canadian murder plot    

Chronicle Media

Local law-enforcement officials played at least a small role in a Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigation that foiled a mass-murder plot planned for Valentine’s Day in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The Geneva Police Department, BBC Canada, the Toronto Star and other media reported that three suspects — including a 23-year-old Geneva woman — had been arrested and a fourth found dead before they could carry out a “Valentine’s Day Massacre” they had planned Nova Scotia, Canada, located just off the coast of Maine.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police officials said at least two of the suspects intended “to go to a public venue … with a goal of opening fire to kill citizens, and then themselves.”

Police identified the 23-year-old Genevan as Lindsay Souvannarath, who authorities say has confessed to being part of the plot and has been charged with conspiracy to commit murder along with 20-year-old Randall Steven Shepherd, of Halifax.

Geneva police assisted in the investigation, executing a search warrant at Souvannarath’s home and removing “multiple items” from the home.

Police said the dead man and Souvannarath had planned to kill themselves after committing the shootings, and Nova Scotia police said Souvannarath had written a number of tweets she had set to post after the plan to open fire at a Halifax mall.

Geneva High School’s 2008-09 yearbook shows images of Souvannarath in the Roll Play Gaming club. She was also an understudy in Rimers of Eldritch, the fall class play. She is referenced in the 2010 yearbook, but there is no senior picture of her.

Police are describing the shooting plot as an act of “murderous misfits” who were obsessed with death and not an act of terrorism.

Statements by Nova Scotia RCMP Commanding Officer Brian Brennan, published by CBC News Nova Scotia, indicated that Souvannarath and Shepherd had access to three long-barrelled rifles.

“It was their intention to go to a public venue in the Halifax region on Feb. 14 with a goal of opening fire to kill citizens, and then themselves,” Brennan said.