DC Mall Shooter Obsessed by Columbine

Police trying to figure out why a Maryland teenager opened fire in a mall earlier this year revealed an awful clue today about his motive: Darion Marcus Aguilar waited until precisely 11:14am to begin shooting, the same time that the Columbine massacre started, reports the Washington Post. It turns out that Aguilar was obsessed with that 1999 shooting, as evidenced by repeated searches on his home computer. “Aguilar’s weapon, attire, backpack containing explosives, and method of suicide were all similar to those used in the Columbine incident,” say police.

The revelation debunks speculation that Aguilar, who killed two mall workers and himself in the January shooting, deliberately went after his victims because of a previous beef. Instead, police say, he tried to randomly kill as many people as possible. He even took a photo of himself with his shotgun inside a dressing room just before his spree began and posted it Tumblr, reports NBC Washington. "I had to do this. Today is the day," read his post. "On previous days I tried this I woke up with anxiety, regret and hope for a better future this day I didn't, I woke up felt no emotions no empathy no sympathy." (More mall shooting stories.)