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Tarkio student arrested for bringing handguns...

Posted at 11:21 PM, Feb 18, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-19 00:21:38-05

There's new information about the arrest of Michael Knoth in Tarkio, Missouri, about 80 miles south of Omaha.

The probable cause statement indicated that 19-year-old Michael Knoth went to Tarkio High School last week wearing "military style clothing" and "tactical assault ballistic body armor".

The chief's report says Knoth showed another student a fully loaded magazine of ammunition. The other student told a teacher and Tarkio Superintendent Pat Martin got involved.

Martin pulled the teen out of the classroom, took him to a different room and had the police called. Knoth attempted to leave, that's when Superintendent Martin grabbed his backpack.

The police statements indicates he found and gave to the arriving police chief. Two 33-round fully loaded magazines for a 9 millimeter handgun. Two 17-round fully loaded magazine for a handgun. Three 28-to-30 round fully loaded magazines for assault rifles. A 9-millimeter glock pistol with a 17-round magazine and hollow point style ammunition with one round in the chamber.

At that point, police arrested Knoth and put the school on lockdown. They then searched his pickup truck in the school parking lot. The police statement indicates they found two 33-round fully loaded magazines for a 9-millimeter handgun and twelve 28-30 round loaded magazines for assault rifles.

Later investigators went to his house armed with a search warrant they located two assault rifles.

The report also said Knoth told investigators he did research on the internet on mass shootings and the errors police made in responding.

Knoth is currently in the Atchison County jail. Prosecutors have charged him wiht making terrorist threats and gun counts.

From cafes to parks in Tarkio, Michael Knoth's arrest is the talk of the town.

Many people wondering why police believe Knoth would take all that firepower to school and what he might have been planning.

Martin told KMTV how impressed he was with the staff and police response to this incident. He said they prevented what could have been the darkest day in Tarkio's history.

Daniel Gish and Knoth are classmates who have known each other since they were kids. Gish doesn't know why Knoth would bring guns to their school. 

"I don't know what he was thinking at that time because, I don't know. He was a smart kid. But I don't know why he would have thought about doing that," said Gish.

Gish said Knoth was obsessed with guns, and researched them all the time.

"If you asked anything about it, he could tell you anything about guns, he was pretty much a walking dictionary," said Gish.

According to Gish, Knoth had a bit of a temper.

"If he got upset or mad, he would get really mad but he would just walk off and calm down be by himself for a while and be alright about it afterwards," said Gish.

Knoth's soon-to-be mother in law, Kerry Baker said this whole situation is a misunderstanding.

"There's got to be a mistake, he's not that kind," said Baker.

Baker said it was carreer day at Tarkio High and Knoth is planning on joining the Marines. The night before Baker points out Knoth was out practive shooting, "That's why he was dressed the way he was dressed but completely forgot it was in his bag".

Knoth is a caring person according to Baker and wouldn't harm a fly.

"I love him to death--he's just a great kid," said Baker.

Baker tells KMTV her daughter and Knoth were supposed to get married this summer and Knoth was joining the Marines in September.