Two Boys Planned Shooting: Arrests Of Two Boys Made, School Shooting Avoided

Two boys that planned a shooting at a school in South Pasadena, California, are now in police custody. According to Yahoo! News, the two teens had plans to kill three staffers, and as many students as possible, but had not secured a weapon (or weapons) to carry out the unthinkable acts.

According to Yahoo! News, the school district notified police when they noticed something strange, and the teens were under “constant surveillance,” before their arrest on Monday, Aug. 18. South Pasadena police Sgt. Brian Solinsky said that the school district’s attention to “suspicious behavior” likely helped save the lives of many people.

“This is a prime example of school officials recognizing suspicious behavior. It was this information that helped prevent a horrific tragedy.”

The two boys that planned the shooting, but were also researching how to make explosives. Police said that there was evidence that the teens had been looking into how to make bombs and construct other explosives, using propane. According to USA Today, a press conference revealed that detectives worked on the case “around the clock” since being notified by the school. The plot was called “viable” and apparently well thought out. The two teens listed the three staffers by name, and then were going to kill “random students”, likely within the first week or two of the school year.

Thursday is the first day of school at South Pasadena High School where about 1,500 students are enrolled. The police presence this week is expected to be high, but students should not be alarmed.

According to The Inquisitr, students have been tweeting about the shocking news and subsequent arrests, and thanking police officers for staying on top of this case. The Superintendent of the South Pasadena Unified School District penned a letter to school families, confirming that the threat has been lifted.

“The police have the situation under control and there is currently no threat to students or employees. The School Board and I appreciate the immediate response by the South Pasadena Police Department, and school will begin on as planned.”

According to The Pasadena Star News, the suspects were 16-years-old and 17-years-old. The students’ names have not been released because they are minors. As of Tuesday, no charges have been filed, but several reports suggest that the two teens will be arraigned today.

The two boys that planned the shooting both face steep punishments.

[Photo courtesy of Twitter]