Riverside

2 Freshmen Arrested After Plot to Carry Out Attack at High School Campus Uncovered

Campus staff received information that an attack was imminent and immediately notified the police department.

Two freshmen at Martin Luther King High School in Riverside were plotting to commit an act of violence that was revealed to authorities in time to stop it, a Riverside police spokesman said Tuesday.

Officer Ryan Railsback said the two 15-year-old boys, whose identities were not released, were arrested Monday and booked into Riverside Juvenile Hall on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder and being in possession of knives and ammunition on school grounds.

"On behalf of the entire Riverside Unified Board of Trustees, we want to assure all parents and members of our school community that safety, for students, families and staff, is at the top of our priority list,'' said Riverside Unified School District Superintendent David Hansen. "The district will continue to work diligently to ensure the safe and secure learning environments necessary for a high-quality education." 

According to Railsback, campus staff received information that an attack was imminent and immediately notified the police department, prompting an investigation Monday that led detectives to question and ultimately arrest the two teenagers.

"As soon as King High School received information on a potential threat, the Riverside Unified School District and the Riverside Police Department took swift action,'' said RUSD Assistant Superintendent Timothy Walker.

Railsback said a school safety plan based on School Threat Assessment and Response -- STAR -- protocols went into effect, even though the alleged conspirators were taken into custody without incident, without anyone being harmed.

"Those protocols are in place to help keep our kids, teachers and staff safe at the schools while a thorough and intensive investigation takes place," Riverside police Lt. Christian Dinco said. "We not only want to hold anyone making threats to cause harm at our schools accountable, but to also have them evaluated within the mental health component of the STAR protocol." 

"The Riverside Police Department encourages the public 'if you see something, say something,'" he said. "RPD and RUSD are thankful we have citizens that stepped forward in this case." 

No details regarding what the boys allegedly had planned or their intended targets were disclosed.

Copyright CNS - City News Service
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