Two 15-year-old girls have been arrested on suspicion of plotting a mass shooting at a Riverside County high school, with authorities reporting that the suspects maintained a targeted list of students and teachers motivated by revenge.
The investigation began on October 6 when the FBI notified the Corona Police Department regarding concerning social media conversations about a potential threat directed at Corona High School. That tip led local police to arrest a 15-year-old girl. Investigators subsequently identified and arrested a second 15-year-old suspect who attended Norco High School. Because of their age, the names of both suspects have been withheld by authorities.
Corona Police Lt. Robert Montanez stated that the teenagers compiled a written list of specific individuals at Corona High School they intended to target, though officials have not disclosed the exact names or the total number of people on the list. While specific individuals were identified, investigators believe the overarching intent was a broad attack against the school itself.
According to the police department news release, the two teens allegedly spent months discussing how to execute an attack and researching previous school shootings. Investigators noted that the suspects also researched methods for acquiring firearms, though no weapons were ultimately obtained for the plot. While authorities indicated that revenge appeared to be a driving motivation behind the conspiracy, specific details regarding their mindset remain under review, and investigators have not publicly detailed how the two girls met or how long they had known each other.
Both suspects are currently in custody facing allegations of conspiracy to commit murder. The Riverside County district attorney’s office is evaluating the case for formal charges.
Law enforcement officials emphasized the unusual nature of the case, noting that mass violence plots of this scale are statistically rare among female suspects and typically involve lone actors rather than co-conspirators. Investigators credited interagency communication and digital monitoring with averting potential tragedy, highlighting the role of the initial social media alert in allowing law enforcement to intervene before any attack could be carried out.
