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A teenager who shot dead his mother and two younger siblings at their flat in Luton was also plotting a school shooting, according to police.
Nicholas Prosper, 19, admitted shooting dead his mother, Juliana Falcon, 48, Kyle Prosper, 16, and Giselle Prosper, 13, when he appeared at Luton crown court on Monday.
He also admitted a number of other offences, including buying a shotgun without a certificate, possession of a shotgun with intent to endanger life and possession of a kitchen knife in a public place.
Prosper had also planned to commit a shooting at a local school and a loaded shotgun with more than 30 cartridges was found hidden in a bush after his arrest, Bedfordshire police said. He was apprehended by officers before he could carry out his plans, they added.
Prosper murdered his family in a “cold-blooded attack” with a shotgun he obtained without a licence, said Chris Derrick, a deputy chief crown prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service.
Officers were called to a home in Leabank in Luton at 5.30am on 13 September 2024 after reports of gunfire. His mother, brother and sister were found dead from gunshot wounds to the head. The perpetrator and victims all lived in the same house.
DCI Sam Khanna, from the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire major crime unit, said: “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.
“No words can fully describe the tragedy their loved ones have experienced, and our thoughts continue to be with them at this difficult time. We are pleased that Prosper has pleaded guilty and will not put his family through the pain of a trial, and that he will soon face a significant jail sentence.
“What was subsequently uncovered during our investigation left no doubt as to his intentions to carry out an attack at a school, but fortunately Prosper was apprehended before he could cause any further harm.”
Assistant chief constable John Murphy of Bedfordshire police said Prosper had intended to cause “maximum harm and distress” to the wider community. “We understand the deep shock this case will have on people within Luton and across the country,” he said.
“Juliana, Kyle and Giselle were brutally murdered in their home by someone intent on causing the maximum harm and distress on not only his family, but 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. We are working closely alongside Luton borough council to engage with schools in Luton to provide support, assistance and guidance to both schools and parents.”
Det Supt Rob Hall, from the region’s major crime unit, previously said officers who arrived at the scene were “met with such awful circumstances”.
Last September, when Prosper first appeared in court, the public gallery was full of family members, many of whom were tearful and shook their heads during his short appearance in the dock.
Judge Simon told Prosper his sentencing would take place on 5 March and remanded him into custody.
