Luton shooting: Man who murdered family planned school attack

A man who shot dead his mother and two siblings was also planning to commit a mass shooting at a local school, police have confirmed.

Nicholas Prosper murdered Juliana Falcon, 48, Kyle Prosper, 16, and 13-year-old Giselle Prosper at their home in Luton in September.

The 19-year-old also intended to carry out an attack at a school and a loaded shotgun with more than 30 cartridges was found in a bush after his arrest, police said.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of murder at Luton Crown Court on Monday.

Det Ch Insp Sam Khanna, from Bedfordshire Police, said “fortunately Prosper was apprehended before he could cause any further harm”.

“This was a truly tragic and shocking case in which three innocent members of the same family have been brutally killed by their son and brother,” said Det Ch Insp Sam Khanna.

“What was subsequently uncovered during our investigation left no doubt as to his intentions to carry out an attack at a school.”

Speaking outside court, he added that his team were in “shock and disbelief” when they learned of his plans to target the school.

Assistant Chief Constable John Murphy said Prosper “brutally” murdered his family and planned to cause maximum harm to the “wider community”.

“We are extremely grateful to our officers who stopped him and prevented him from going through with his plans to target a school.”

Mr Murphy said police were working with the council to give support, assistance and guidance to schools and parents.

The leader of Luton Council, Hazel Simmons MBE, said schools would be asked for a further review of their security measures.

She praised the “excellent work” of police for apprehending the perpetrator before he attempted to cause more harm.

“However, we know this case will be unsettling for parents which is why the council is working with schools to put support in place in our schools to anyone who needs it,” said Simmons.

She said schools in the area had “robust systems” in place to keep children safe and the council had recently asked them to conduct a security review following the fatal knife attack at a school in Sheffield.

Officers were called to the flat in Leabank, off Wauluds Bank Drive, at about 05:30 BST after a concerned neighbour said they heard a disturbance.

An inquest at Bedford Coroner’s Court in October was told that all three of the victims died from gunshot wounds to the head.

Speaking previously Det Supt Rob Hall, from the region’s major crime unit, said officers who arrived at the scene were “met with such awful circumstances”.

Prosper was arrested shortly after and the firearm was found in the bushes during a search of the surrounding area.

Shortly after the murders, Kyle’s school in Luton said it was “deeply saddened” by his death.

“This is devastating news to all those who knew and loved Kyle and it will take some time to come to terms with the profound sense of loss,” the school said.

The head teacher at Giselle’s school said in a statement: “Giselle was a beautiful soul and a model pupil.

“She excelled in all her subjects and will be sorely missed, particularly by her friends in Year 9.”

Prosper is on remand at HMP Peterborough, but he appeared for the hearing which lasted less than 10 minutes.

He wore a black t-shirt, dark trousers and black rimmed glasses as he entered his pleas.

The 19-year-old sat with his arms folded when he entered the dock.

As well as admitting the three murders, he pleaded guilty to purchasing or acquiring a shotgun without a certificate, possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and possessing an article with a blade or point.

He is due to be sentenced on 5 March.