An 18-year-old man has been arrested after investigators say they uncovered an alleged plan to carry out a shooting at a California high school.
Carlos Barajas Ramirez was taken into custody at his Hollister home and booked into the San Benito County Jail on suspicion of making threats to commit a school shooting at Hollister High School, the Hollister Police Department said.
The investigation began September 27, when the Northern California Regional Intelligence Center alerted Hollister police to reports that someone was trying to obtain a firearm and allegedly planning an attack at the school.
Working alongside the FBI, detectives followed the suspect’s online activity after learning he had shared operational details and what authorities described as “radical ideation” with other people online.
Investigators spoke with witnesses who had communicated with the suspect and found messages that allegedly outlined a mass shooting. Account metadata later helped authorities identify Barajas Ramirez and locate him.
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Detectives and officers visited Ramirez’s home on October 13. Following an interview and additional investigative work, authorities determined that he had taken active steps toward carrying out the alleged attack.
Police have not disclosed whether Ramirez had secured a firearm before his arrest or whether he had any direct connection to Hollister High School.
The department said it worked discreetly with school administrators during the investigation, aiming to avoid tipping off the suspect while protecting the wider community.
Dr. Shawn Tennenbaum, superintendent of the San Benito High School District, commended law enforcement, saying the department’s swift guidance was “instrumental to ensuring a safe environment for all.”
Authorities said there is no ongoing threat to students or school staff.
