Parents, Students Still Wary Days After Tuolumne County School Shooting Plot Thwarted

TUOLUMNE COUNTY (CBS13) — Students at a Tuolumne high school returned to class on Monday, days after four of their classmates were arrested on suspicion of plotting a school shooting.

It wasn't classes as usual at Summerville High School after that violent threat was foiled.

Superintendent Robert Griffith says despite the four students' arrests, upwards of 20 percent of the student body were absent on Monday—no doubt worried after learning of the deadly plan to shoot students and staff in a Columbine-style massacre.

Lissa Britt's son was apprehensive to show up on Monday.

"He was a little scared to come to school this morning; he was unsure about everything," she said.

"Part of our role is to meet with students and parents and address what we're doing and the fact that we were able to respond quickly and avoid what could have been a catastrophic situation," Griffith said.

Students and staff came together at an assembly, to address concerns, and counselors were also on hand.

According to sheriff's officials, the four suspects were turned in by other students who overheard the plan. There was said to be a list of planned victims. Griffith says those on the list are being contacted personally.

"It's really different because it brings it home, you know it's always on national TV, some place else," said father Peter Smith.

Because the suspects are juveniles, their names are not being released. Counselors are expected to be here and available to anyone who needs them for the rest of the week.

The sheriff's department says the plot was uncovered a day before a mass shooting in Roseburg, Oregon, and does not appear to be related.