Gunman designed rocket launcher to fire ‘mind control drug’ at police – court

Reed Wischhusen, 32, said the ballistic projector would contain a ‘mind control substance’ based on weapons developed by Russia.

Reed Wischhusen had plans to built a rocket launcher to fire at police (Avon and Somerset Police/PA) (PA Media)

A gunman accused of planning a mass shooting had designed a rocket launcher to fire a chemical weapon at police, a court heard.

Reed Wischhusen, 32, said the ballistic projector would contain a “mind control substance” based on weapons developed by Russia.

The Lidl warehouse worker told his trial at Bristol Crown Court he “quickly gave up on the idea” and never purchased the materials to build the weapon – describing the project as “fantasy”.

Wischhusen is accused of possessing explosives, firearms and ammunition, which were discovered when police searched his home.

During the search, he attempted to take his own life in the bathroom with a pistol he had hidden in his coat but when that failed, he ran at armed officers pointing the gun at them and hoping they would “finish the job”.

The police officers fired three times – hitting him twice – as he ran down the stairs of his home in Somerset.

The jury has previously been told Wischhusen was fascinated with mass shootings and infamous killers such as the Dunblane gunman, Thomas Hamilton, and Raoul Moat.

It is alleged he had drawn up plans to carry out a “hitman-style attack” on his former school in a document he had called “Revenge”.

Adam Vaitilingam KC, defending, took Wischhusen through his lengthy written journal in which he discusses mass shootings and the manufacture of bombs.

“Did you ever build a rocket launcher?” he asked him.

Wischhusen replied: “Pretty quickly I gave up on it. I designed one to launch a chemical weapon – not an explosive charge.

“I was going to make some mind control substance and launch it at the police.”

Mr Vaitilingam asked: “Were you going to do this?”

The defendant replied: “No. It’s just fantasy.”

Wischhusen said he never completed the rocket launcher or had all the materials to complete it.

He added: “I had done some research in mind control substances and there was an incapacitant the Russians were experimenting with.”

In the revenge document, Wischhusen is alleged to drawn up plans targeting people who had bullied him at school, as well as the Avon and Somerset Police firearms licensing staff who twice rejected his shotgun certificate application.

The four-page document also lists the types of weapons and explosives he would need to carry out his attacks.

Wischhusen told the court he had no intention of hurting anyone named in the document.

“It was a psychological release and feelings like I am getting back at people,” he said.

“It’s why people write their feelings down and tear it up and throw it away – just I forgot to throw it away.

“I got power over them by writing it down.”

Mr Vaitilingam asked: “Did you intend to harm anyone?”

The defendant replied: “No.”

Jurors also heard why the defendant had bought 1,000 primers, which he said were for manufacturing 9mm rounds at home for the submachine gun he had made.

Wischhusen said he only made about 10 rounds in total and had never fired them in the gun and did not have any intention of harming anyone with that weapon.

He told the court he had tried to join the Army in 2021 but was rejected because he had the eye condition blepharitis.

Wischhusen, of Wick Road, Wick St Lawrence, Somerset, denies charges of having an explosive substance with intent to endanger life, having an explosive substance, possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, possessing ammunition with intent to endanger life and possessing a prohibited firearm without a certificate.

He has admitted possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, possessing a prohibited firearm and possessing ammunition without a firearm certificate in relation to the handgun incident last year.

The trial continues.