Two 15-year-old girls allegedly coordinated a plan to carry out a school shooting at Corona High School in Riverside County, police said late Tuesday.
The FBI alerted local authorities on Oct. 6 after uncovering social media threats posted by a 15-year-old student at Corona High School.
Corona police launched an investigation, later serving search warrants, examining electronic devices and searching multiple homes in the area. During the investigation, authorities determined that a second 15-year-old girl, who attends Norco High School, was allegedly involved.
Investigators said the two girls had allegedly spent months planning an attack on Corona High School.
Authorities said the teenagers researched previous school shootings as they developed their alleged plan. They also discussed ways to obtain firearms, but investigators said they were unable to acquire any weapons. No weapons were found during the searches.
Both girls have been charged with felony conspiracy to commit murder and remain in custody. The charge could result in a sentence of 25 years to life if the teenagers were prosecuted as adults. Because they are being treated as juveniles, they would likely face a lesser sentence if convicted.
FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement to ABC that authorities had “disrupted” a potential targeted attack against a Southern California high school before anyone was injured.
“There is no greater priority than protecting our kids, and threats against our schools will be met with the full force of the FBI and our partners,” Patel said.
The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing the case.
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The Corona Police Department worked with the FBI, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office and officials from the Corona-Norco Unified School District during the investigation.
Authorities have not released the names of the two girls.
Police urged residents to report suspicious or unusual activity in the future.
“The Corona Police Department remains committed to working collaboratively with our law-enforcement partners, school officials, parents, and the community to ensure the safety and security of all students and residents. Parents and students are reminded to immediately report anything they see or hear that could be concerning, as awareness plays a vital role in keeping everyone safe,” the department said in a statement.
Corona High School serves more than 2,000 students in grades nine through 12. The school is in Corona, a Riverside County city roughly 47 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
The alleged plot came days after a 16-year-old opened fire at an elementary school in Oregon, killing three children and a teacher. The teenager had previously attended the school. A bystander shot and killed him at the scene after he entered the campus with a shotgun.
The victims were identified as 5-year-old Rhoam Summer, an 8-year-old child, an 11-year-old child and 25-year-old teacher Megan Lambert, whom authorities said the teenager allegedly killed.
The California Post contacted the Corona-Norco Unified School District for comment.
