Sheriff: Teens Confess To Shooting Plot At Tuolumne Co. School
TUOLUMNE (CBS13) – Just a few days after the Oregon shooting, authorities in Tuolumne County revealed the details of a similar attack at a local high school – an attack averted after the arrest of four teen boys.
Authorities say the boys planned to carry out a plot against students and staff at Summerville High School. Investigators say search warrants led them to four teen boys and piles of evidence.
Those teens are now locked up in juvenile hall as parents try to process the disturbing details.
"You watch it on media all the time. It's happening every day and you don't think it's going to happen," said mother Kristin Wilson. "But when it becomes this real, it hits a part of your heart that you never want to be touched.
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Wilson is both a teacher and a mom. She broke down at the thought of it.
"The thought of getting a phone call from the school or police department to tell you your daughter's been shot," Wilson said.
Authorities say not just her daughter, but a list of students and staff at Summerville High School could have been victims.
"The suspects' plans [were] very detailed in nature and included names of would-be victims' names [and] methods in which the plan would have been carried out," said Tuolumne County Sheriff James Mele.
Sunday, authorities announced that four teenage boys were arrested before they could carry out a detailed attack against specific people, on a scheduled day.
"They were going to come on campus and shoot and kill as many people as possible on campus," Mele said.
A disturbing plot investigators say the suspects confessed to.
"They were in the process of trying to obtain these weapons," Mele said.
Mele says a few brave students came forward after learning about suspicious activity and hearing talk of an attack.
Parents sat in shock at the news conference Sunday, clinging to what little information investigators were able to provide.
"I can't say I understand, but I know that the law says we can't know who the kids were carrying out the plan. But I do think the kids and staff on this list have the right to know so that as parents we can protect our children," said mom Erica Caldera.
Sheriff Mele reassures parents that the threat at the school is over. But just a few days after the Oregon shooting, parents here are at a loss all over again.
"I don't know; it just needs to stop happening," Wilson said.
Mele added to that, saying schools nationwide need to have a discussion about bulling and violence.
For now, the school will have counselors available for students on Monday.
As for the investigation, authorities say the suspects' parents are cooperating with law enforcement.
