The cheerleader behind a foiled mass shooting planned for Valentines Day 2015 at the Halifax Shopping Centre is out of prison with orders to stay off the internet and live in a halfway house.
Randall Steven Thomas Shepherd pleaded guilty in October of 2017 to conspiracy to commit murder. A judge handed him a 10-year sentence, but that was whittled down to seven years and four months due to the time Shepherd served on remand.
He got out in the fall of 2021 on statutory release that's the law that requires federal offenders who have served two-thirds of a fixed-length sentence be released from prison under supervision. Shepherds sentence doesn't officially end until the spring of 2024.
'Conspired to commit a mass murder'
"You and two associates whom you met online conspired to commit a mass murder at a busy shopping mall on Valentine's Day, said a parole board decision that put conditions on Shepherds release before he got out of prison.
You had intended to kill yourself following the shooting.
Following an anonymous tip, police identified James Gamble as one of Shepherds associates and went to his home to speak to him, said the parole board. When asked to exit the residence, this individual took his life.
Police later identified Lindsay Kantha Souvannarath of Geneva, Illinois, as the third person involved in the plot to use rifles and Molotov cocktails on shoppers in the malls food court. She was arrested at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport after flying into Canada.
(Shepherd) had gone to the airport to pick this person up and (was) arrested that same day as well, said the parole board.
Chose Valentines Day for added shock value'
He confirmed that they planned to commit a mass murder, advised that you chose Valentines Day for added shock value, and said that you wanted to be remembered and secure a place in history.
Shepherd did not have a criminal history and he was "raised in a home that was free from abuse or neglect, said the parole board.
Collaterals report that they caught you watching violent pornography as a teenager and tried to restrict your internet usage thereafter. Your behaviour escalated, you became disrespectful and moved out after high school. During an intake assessment you said that you felt like you were the black sheep of the family and that they would not miss you if you were gone and that you wanted to die because you felt rejected by society.
Shepherd reported being bullied in school, and using alcohol and marijuana in the past, but Correctional Service Canada said there is no indication that he struggles with substance abuse issues.
Didn't know he had autism
File information indicates that you are on the autism spectrum; this is something that you were not aware of prior to incarceration, said the parole board.
Before he plead guilty, Shepherd spent most of his time on remand in segregation and a mental health unit.
After he was sentenced, Shepherd was voluntarily transferred to a health centre for assessment and treatment in April 2017.
He was moved back into a regular prison in 2020 and was taking his medication regularly, said the parole board.
Shepherd did not meet the criteria for correctional programming, while he was behind bars, said the parole board.
For a period of time, most work assignments and programs were cancelled due to COVID 19. When they resumed, however, you began attending school part time, joined a book club, and began going to the gym.
Shepherds jailers planned to refer him to a community mental health team when he was released from prison.
'Some work to do'
You do not have contact with your family but believe that they would provide you with accommodations, said the parole board. Information on file indicates that you have some work to do with respect to repairing those relationships.
Shepherd, who grew up in Halifax, expressed anxiety regarding possibly returning home, but did not provide Correctional Service Canada with an alternative release destination, said the parole board.
Local police strongly recommend that residency and an internet restriction be imposed, said the parole board.
'Killing spree'
The foiled shooting he helped plan had the potential to see the loss of many innocent lives in a reckless manner. Your current offence was well planned and with accomplices, you knew the date, time, and place of the intended killing spree.
Shepherd "can be influenced by others who share values rooted in anger and violence, said the parole board, adding that in the absence of previous violent acts on your part, the board notes other factors that would reasonably predict a preoccupation with violence. You were known to view violent pornography and you were fascinated by highly publicized school shootings and mass murders. You wrote a blog on social media that glorified such events.
The parole board concluded that Shepherd has "a propensity for violence.
It ordered him to live in a halfway house.
'An undue risk'
The board imposes a residency condition because it is satisfied that, in the absence of a condition requiring you to reside in a community-based residential facility or a psychiatric facility, you will present an undue risk to society by committing, before the expiration of your sentence, an offence.
The parole board did not authorize leave privileges for Shepherd.
"A nightly return to your place of residence is required to effectively monitor your risk.
The parole board ordered him to stay away from other criminals.
'Glorify violent acts'
You connected with other individuals who were prepared to engage in a mass shooting. If you continue to associate with others who espouse and glorify violent acts, your risk to reoffend will increase.
The parole board also ordered Shepherd to follow a mental health treatment plan arranged by his parole officer.
You have serious mental health issues that can contribute to your offence cycle if these issues are not properly addressed, said the parole board. Should you not follow professional guidance, including the suggested pharma therapy, your risk to reoffend will increase."
It ordered Shepherd to stay off the internet.
'Any access can be dangerous'
The board believes the internet provides a forum for you to connect with others who share a fascination with violence. Further, the board believes that these connections can be instrumental in enabling you to plan and carry out acts of violence. The board believes that any access can be dangerous and could increase your risk to reoffend.
Shepherd must immediately report all sexual and non-sexual relationships and friendships with females and males and any changes to the status of those to his parole officer.
"The board believes it is necessary for your (case management team) to be apprised of your relationships/friendships in order to adequately supervise you in the community.