Day three in school shooting plot trial: Defendant John Schultz IV takes the stand
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Schultz has been charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit murder does not result in death, intimidation, possession of a narcotic drug and possession of methamphetamine.
Schultz is accused of planning a “Columbine style” school shooting with Donald Robin Jr. Robin has been convicted and sentenced for conspiracy to commit murder.
On the third day of trial, the defense began presenting its case with Schultz taking the stand.
The defense walked Schultz through all of the evidence presented against him in the prosecution’s case.
Schultz testified that he took medication for ADD and ADHD as a child. That he doesn’t know how to sign his name, has no ID or bank account.
He said as a student he lacked focus, was bullied for being poor, skinny and for having long hair.
He testified he didn’t know the layout of Rochester High School because he never attended there. He had only driven past Caston High School on the way to Logansport.
Schultz admits to abusing drugs, like Vyvanse, an ADHD medication and smoking marijuana around the age of 13.
A friend urged him to try meth. He stopped for a week or two, but then began taking it nearly every weekend.
That led him to doing more and more meth, which led to him abusing air dust, an electronics cleaner in a can.
In March 2020, he bought heroin. By that time he was smoking, snorting and swallowing meth.
Schultz said he and Donald Robin began hanging out in 2019. They bonded over their bad child hoods and would cry together. They also smoked meth together.
While high, Schultz would sometimes rap and one rap song he wrote referenced shooting up a mall. He testified he had no plans to shoot up a mall.
To get money for drugs, Schultz, Robin and Derek Carter went to a pawn shop to sell stolen items. While at the pawn shop, Robin tried to convicince Schultz to buy a gun but he didn’t have the money and wanted to use what money he had to buy drugs.
With the money from the pawn shop they bought drugs, gas and food.
The defense then asked Schultz about the names on the wall of his bedroom and the holes in the wall.
Schultz said he and Robin wrote the names but they weren’t the people who bullied Schultz. He said he didn’t intend to do those people any harm.
The damage to the wall was caused by Schultz when he punched it – sometimes for fun and sometimes because he was angry.
The guns drawn on the wall were drawn by Robin.
One of the phrases on the wall “Columbine will fall because of us” was written because he thought it was funny, Schultz said. He was obsessed with Columbine.
The defense then addressed some of the items in evidence including two hats and a helium tank.
Schultz testified the helium tank was used to get high. There was writing from multiple people on it but it was not intended to be used as a bomb, he testified.
He said he nor Robin knew how to create a bomb with the tank and never planned to use it in an explosive manner.
Robin testified that he and Schultz attempted to modify trench coats so they could conceal their weapons. Schultz said the trench he had was his grandfather’s. He wore it a couple times, but he and Robin only wore them at the same time once.
Neither his nor Robin’s were modified in any way.
When asked if he planned to wear the trench coats in a plot to kill children, he replied, “No we did not.”
Schultz testified he wanted to try to look cool in front of Robin and wanted Robin to look up to him. He felt like Robin was his brother.
He and Robin got tattoos together. Robin paid for both their tattoos with money he earned working at Taco Bell.
Schultz says he regrets getting the tattoo of a shotgun and the words “Peek-a-boo” and plans to cover it up or get it removed. He testified it referenced something one of the Columbine shooters said to one of the victims.
Robin’s tattoo was of a TEC-9 and said “Do you believe in God” a reference to a now debunked rumor that one of the victims of Columbine was asked if she believed in God.
Schultz has multiple tattoos including a cross, smiley face, hearts and some writing.
The defense asked Schultz about Robin. Schultz said Robin doesn’t deserve to be in prison.
He said they did not plan to shoot up a school and they didn’t plan to harm anyone.
One of the final questions was about the drugs found with Schultz when he was arrested. He believed one of the drugs was heroin but it was actually fentanyl.
Schultz expressed regret.
He said he is sorry for making people believe he would go out and hurt children.
The judge then called for a recess for lunch. The state spent just a few minutes cross-examining Schultz.
The prosecution asked about Schultz being bullied. He said he was bullied because he had long hair and was poor. He was called names by peers and by teachers.
In redirect, the defense asked Schultz about the tank stolen from the blueberry farm and clarified a few things the state asked.
Following redirect, the defense rested. The jurors did not have questions for Schultz.
Court then recessed for the day. It will continue at 8:30 a.m. Thursday for closing arguments and jury deliberation.