A notoriety-obsessed teenager who murdered his own family and plotted a school massacre has been sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 49 years.

Nicholas Prosper, 18 at the time of the crimes, killed his mother, brother, and sister in September last year as part of a chilling plan to become history’s deadliest mass murderer. He will not be eligible for release until he is at least 67. Despite the brutality of his actions, he avoided a rare whole-life order.

Prosper used a shotgun, obtained with a forged licence, to carry out the killings. His mother, Juliana Falcon, 48, was shot in the head, while his 13-year-old sister, Giselle, was found sheltering under a dining table. His 16-year-old brother, Kyle, was shot in the chest and head and suffered over 100 knife wounds.

At Luton Crown Court, Mrs. Justice Cheema-Grubb described Prosper as highly dangerous, emphasizing that he will never be released unless experts deem him no longer a threat to society. She condemned his calculated and selfish motives, stating: "You intended to unleash disaster on the Luton community. Your ambition was notoriety—to be remembered as the most infamous school shooter of the 21st century."

Prosper refused to leave his cell for sentencing, but the judge ordered his attendance. Dressed in a grey T-shirt, he sat with his head in his hands, refusing to stand as the sentence was delivered. Accounting for time already served, he faces at least another 48 years and 177 days behind bars.

Family members in the public gallery sobbed as the judge detailed the horrific crimes. In a statement, they expressed their grief and shock, revealing they had been unaware of Prosper’s violent intentions. They acknowledged that while their loved ones were lost, the swift action of police prevented further tragedy.

Prosper had admitted to three counts of murder, along with charges of illegally purchasing and possessing a shotgun and carrying a knife in public. Investigators uncovered his elaborate plan to attack his former primary school, St Joseph’s Catholic Primary, where he aimed to kill at least 30 children and two teachers.

He had spent over a year meticulously planning the attack, conducting surveillance on the school and forging a shotgun licence on his computer. His intent was to ambush the early years assembly at 9 a.m. after killing his family in their eighth-floor flat. However, neighbors heard the violent struggle, prompting him to abandon his plan.

Spotted by police covered in blood, he eventually surrendered, leading officers to his hidden shotgun and ammunition. Upon arrest, he displayed an unsettlingly cheerful demeanor, even inquiring about school lockdowns.

Prosecutor Timothy Cray KC described Prosper’s actions as "cold, calculated, and emotionless," revealing that he had studied mass shooters and idolized their manifestos. His online searches the day before the murders included questions about fatal gunshot wounds and disturbing topics related to violence.

In a chilling video posted to Facebook after the killings, he disturbingly referenced his sister's choices in a video game, suggesting they justified her death. He also claimed to be "chosen" by the fictional character Clementine from The Walking Dead, likening himself to a religious figure.

However, prosecutors dismissed the idea that video games were his primary motivation, pointing instead to his deep research into real-world mass killings.

Detective Chief Inspector Sam Khanna of Bedfordshire Police called Prosper "truly evil," adding that he had never encountered an individual capable of such horrific acts without remorse. Authorities expressed relief that he will spend most of his life in prison, ensuring he can no longer pose a danger to society.