Just days after a student opened fire at a suburban Denver high school, police in southern Colorado said they thwarted a school attack plot by two teenagers, one of whom “idolized” the shooters in the Columbine High School and Colorado theater massacres.
Extra security was put in place at three Trinidad schools
Thursday following a tip-off that two boys, ages 15 and 16,
plotted to carry out an attack at Trinidad High School, police
chief Charles Glorioso told reporters Friday.
Due to the early warning, security was beefed up at three
Trinidad schools Thursday, the last day of classes before the
holiday break.
The police chief in the town of just under 10,000 people said
investigators discovered the 15-year-old had been bullied by
classmates and “idolized” the Columbine High School and Colorado
theater shooters, AP reported.
The students were arrested Friday on suspicion of making “a
credible threat against an educational facility school and
inciting destruction of life or property.”
Glorioso, who said the teenagers planned the attack for around a
month and a half, refused to release information on the plot or
how they intended to carry it out. However, the police chief said
a search of the boys’ homes failed to discover any weapons, but
‘‘they had talked about what they could do to get
them.’’
Glorioso commended the department’s resource officer for taking
action on the tip.
“His thorough investigation uncovered the threats and put a
halt to any plan made by these students,” he said.
Police have recommended the teenagers be charged with inciting
destruction of life or property, a felony, and interference with
school, a misdemeanor. However, prosecutors will decide whether
to file charges.
Frank Ruybalid, district attorney for Las Animas and Huerfano
counties, said that he was not permitted to discuss the details
of the case because it involves juveniles but that he supported
the police response to the situation.
“Any evidence regarding a threat to students at our schools
is going to be taken very seriously,” he said.
On December 13, a student opened fire at Arapahoe High School near Denver, critically wounding 17-year-old Claire Davis before killing himself. Despite the best efforts of the medics, Davis died on Saturday at a hospital with her family at her side.