Two Teens Arrested for Plotting California High School Shooting

Two 15-year-old girls have been arrested in Riverside County, California, for allegedly plotting to carry out a school shooting. The girls, whose identities have not been released, were taken into custody this month after the FBI discovered their communications discussing a planned attack on a local high school. Local police confirmed that the pair had compiled a list of students and teachers at Corona High School as potential targets.

Lt. Robert Montanez of the Corona Police Department stated that revenge appeared to be a likely motive for the girls' actions. "There is some indication that revenge played some role in this," Montanez told CBS News. "If that's the case, it's extraordinarily unfortunate that it's got to this point where these girls felt that this was their only avenue to deal with their problems."

Beyond creating a target list, the girls reportedly obtained a map of the school campus to aid in their planning. They also researched methods to circumvent state laws to acquire firearms. Authorities confirmed that the teens were unsuccessful in obtaining any weapons, and no firearms were recovered.

One of the arrested individuals attended Corona High School, while the other attended Norco High School but had previously been a student at Corona. The FBI's Los Angeles field office worked with local law enforcement to identify and apprehend the suspects after discovering online discussions about the planned attack. FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the potential violence was disrupted before any harm occurred.

Police executed search warrants and investigated electronic devices and residences in connection with the case. The first arrest occurred on October 6, with the second student taken into custody on October 20. Authorities indicated that the plot was still in the planning stages, and no specific date for the attack had been set.

The Riverside District Attorney's Office is reviewing the case. Under California law protecting juvenile privacy, the office declined to comment on whether charges have been filed or release the identities of the teens, citing the aim of rehabilitation. The district confirmed that neither student had been on campus since the investigation began on October 6.

This incident occurred shortly after a school shooting at an elementary school in Oregon.