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A boy of 13 who was interested in the Columbine massacre went into school with an air rifle, up to 40 pellets and an axe, a court heard.

The lad, who was disarmed by staff after firing one pellet, had a hit list mentioning names of other pupils.

After smuggling the air gun into school in a guitar case he got changed in the toilets, emerging in a camouflage vest and a T-shirt bearing the words “Natural Selection”.

Prosecutor Jim Clare told the court the lad’s house was searched and items seized included a notepad in which he “set out things he planned to do, a zero day”.

Mr Clare added: “There was a hit list of people, his intention it would seem of causing them some harm.

“There were references to the Columbine shooting, the Nazis and ‘Natural Selection’ which was on his T-shirt.

(Image: Google Street View)

“These are a chilling set of circumstances – we have the hit list of other vulnerable youngsters.”

A member of staff at the secondary school in Lincolnshire confronted the boy at 9am in November after spotting him near the toilets with the air rifle over his shoulder.

The lad went outside where teachers told him to “put the gun down”.

Lincoln youth court was told he fired a pellet into the ground before letting go of the weapon.

The boy said he wanted to “send a message to stop the bullying”, the court heard.

The lad, who cannot be named because of his age, pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm and an axe on school premises. He was supported in court by his mum and stepdad.

District Judge Peter Veits said: “I am concerned about what happened and what you wrote in the notebook.”

The boy was remanded into secure local authority care and is due to be sentenced on January 26.

The court heard he had spoken to other pupils about the 1999 Columbine High School shootings in the US when students Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold killed 13 people then committed suicide.