The 18-year-old accused of plotting to kill high school classmates and faculty at Connetquot High School is sad that he's being given a bad rap. Christopher Franko spoke to Newsday (subscripted required) from a Suffolk County jail, "I'm a very loving person. But nobody wants to view me as that. Everybody wants to view me as the mad bomber."
Franko and girlfriend Dana Saltzman, 16, were arrested after Franko's social worker became concerned about a possible attack, and police found that Saltzman's computer showed web searches for bomb making and her phone had a text message from Franko: "May we kill as many as possible and teach these bastards a lesson." However, Franko says that Saltzman, who was released without bail, made everything up because she's mad that he recently tried to commit suicide. Saltzman's lawyer denied that, "She's an impressionable 16- year-old. He has previous contact with the justice system."
Franko was previously in a treatment center for trying to plan a Columbine-style attack at the high school in 2007 (as per writings in his note book), but he says he was "just venting," after being teased about being short, overweight and living in a trailer park, "I'm sorry everybody takes this so seriously. But you have to realize when a kid is just venting." Franko credits his time at the treatment center, plus growing taller, in helping his self-confidence, "I know I'll walk away from this and I'll be a successful writer, and I'll have a lot of success in life."
