B.T.E. v. State of Indiana

Slaughter, Justice.

For several months B.T.E., a juvenile, plotted to shoot up and blow up his high school, and he targeted two of his classmates to die. B.T.E. took several steps to implement his plot. The trial court adjudicated B.T.E. a juvenile delinquent on two counts, one of which is relevant here: attempted aggravated battery, a level 3 felony if committed by an adult.

We consider whether, under Indiana's criminal-attempt statute, B.T.E. took the required "substantial step" toward committing aggravated battery-or whether his actions were "mere preparation". After considering several…