Affidavit Points to Local Teen's Weapons Obsession

The affidavit for the arrest warrant of Kyle Bass reveals an unusual relationship with a priest, which led to the arrest of the 18-year-old high school student.

Law enforcement officials were tipped off by Father Paul Gotta, who is listed in the affidavit as the administrator of St. Philip and St. Catherine churches in East Windsor, that Bass had allegedly manufactured explosives and a silencer for at least one rifle; had made disturbing references to the Newtown shootings and Boston Marathon bombings; and was going to pull a prank that “was going to make sure they would remember he was there,” according to the affidavit for an arrest warrant.

The four-page affidavit, dated June 7 and unsealed at Superior Court in Enfield on Tuesday, states that Gotta told police in May that Kyle Bass had become “estranged” from him and the church.

Prior to that falling out, however, Bass, who is enrolled in the Metropolitan Learning Center magnet school in Bloomfield, had talked to Gotta about the teenager’s interests in firearms, survival, hunting and the outdoors.

“Kyle told me he was a wrestler and did martial arts,” said the affidavit, quoting Gotta.

Gotta said that Bass showed Gotta websites dedicated to firearms, ammunition and accessories and how Bass “talked about modifying firearms to make them fully automatic.”

Bass, according to the affidavit, showed Gotta a 2-liter soda bottle taped to the end of an “Army-type” rifle and I observed Kyle fire the weapon and it did silence the shot.”

Bass also showed Gotta how to mix white pellets and sugar to make a fire and said that it was “a good way to get back at people.”

“Kyle seems to have a fascination with fire and showed me how to make napalm by soaking Styrofoam and gasoline,” Gotta told police according to the affidavit. “Kyle stated that there had been three fires at his house.”

In addition, Bass and Gotta had gone shooting at a local farm in the fall 2012, during which Bass brought a .22 caliber Beretta, a shotgun, a silver 1911 pistol, a .357 caliber revolver, one bolt-action rifle, one rifle with sights, another revolver and assorted ammunition, the affidavit said.

The affidavit also states that Gotta told police the following:

• In reference to the Newtown shooting, Kyle stated that that the shooter should have made better use of his firearms by making them fully automatic.

• In reference to the Boston Marathon bombings, Kyle stated that there were smaller and better things you could make than a pressure cooker bomb.

• Kyle also became very interested in Russia and expressed an interest in moving to Russia to “start fresh.”

Bass also allegedly showed Gotta a textbook that Bass claimed he shot a hole in. The incident allegedly led to his locker being search at his high school, where police found an SAS survival book and a knife.

“Kyle told me that he cut all ties with his school, that he ended all his friendships, cleaned out his locker,” the affidavit quotes Gotta as saying. “Kyle said that the principal was against him and talked about a prank at graduation, and said now that school’s coming to an end, he was going to make sure that he would remember he was there.”

On June 4, East Windsor police and ATF agents executed a search of Bass’ residence, where they found two shotguns, three rifles, 14 cases of ammunition, steel pipes cut to 5” and 8” with threading on both ends, a device assembled from white 6” PVC pipe and “caps that appeared to have electrode igniters,” among other things.

A 7.62 caliber wooden stock Mosin rifle was seized, which the affidavit states had gray tape on the barrel. The end of the barrel was also threaded, the affidavit states.

According to the affidavit, Bass admitted in an interview on June 6 that he had been planning pranks for graduation, including welding the shell of a Volkswagen Beetle to the flagpole of the school. He also claimed he intended to purchase a product called “Liquid Ass” and spray it onto his gloved hand so when he accepted his diploma and shook the principal’s hand, the smell would transfer to the principal’s hand and any subsequent person who shoot the principal’s hand.

Gotta on May 28 registered a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives about his concerns for his and the public’s safety after his relationship with Bass had soured.

Prior to that complaint, Gotta had told East Windsor police on May 23 that he had found three bullets - all of which had a hole drilled in them and the gunpowder removed - on his door steps.

Gotta also said that Bass told him, “You should bring your gun with you when you walk your dog. You never know when someone will jump out of the bushes and shoot you or the dog.”

Bass has been charged with two counts of criminal attempt to manufacture bombs, illegal possession of explosives, possession of a silencer, possession of fireworks and breach of peace in the second degree.

He is being held in lieu of a $750,000 surety bond and is scheduled to appear in court on July 2.

At a hearing on Tuesday, the Bass’ case was transferred to Hartford Superior Court. Bass did not speak during the hearing and his attorney, Jeremy Weingast, declined to comment.