A small group’s desire to carry out a heinous crime appears to have been the motivation behind a foiled plot for a Valentine’s Day mass murder-suicide at a Canadian shopping mall. Canada’s justice minister said on Saturday that a group of “murderous misfits” planned the massacre at Canada’s largest regional shopping mall, the Halifax Shopping Center.

Two people have been charged with conspiracy to commit murder in the alleged plot to shoot as many people as possible at the mall. A 17-year-old suspect was released, citing lack of evidence. A fourth man who was linked to the plot has been found dead at a house in Halifax.

Justice Minister Peter MacKay told reporters that, based on what is known so far, the attack would have been devastating and would have resulted in mass casualties. He said that it does not appear to have been culturally motivated, so terrorism is not suspected.

Police said Friday that information had been obtained that suggested that 20-year-old Canadian Randall Steven Shepherd and 23-year-old American Lindsay Kantha Souvannarath had allegedly planned a shooting at a public venue. The two, who were to in contact online, were believed to have access to firearms and intended to kill themselves after killing others.

Police arrested the two at Halifax airport. Souvannarath had just arrived from Illinois, and was met by Shepherd. Police are investigating the death of the 19-year-old man who was found deceased. At the home where he was found, police seized three long-barreled rifles.

On Thursday morning authorities received a tip that Souvannarath and a 19-year-old Nova Scotia man planned to go to a public location with a “goal of opening fire to kill citizens,” before killing themselves. The four people were described as friends. The two captured suspects are scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.