Two 15-year-old girls arrested over alleged plot to carry out California high school massacre

Two 15-year-old girls have been arrested in California after allegedly spending months researching school shootings and plotting an attack on a high school, authorities said Wednesday.The teenagers, who attend separate schools in Riverside County, are suspected of conspiring to carry out an attack at Corona High School on an unspecified future date.Police said the pair had discussed how to obtain weapons but had not managed to acquire any. No firearms or other weapons were recovered during searches of several properties.Corona High School is a school of around 2,244 students in Southern California's Inland Empire (Wikimedia)Both girls remain in custody on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder.FBI uncovers chilling social media messagesThe alleged plot came to light on October 6 when the FBI alerted the Corona Police Department to social media communications suggesting that an attack was being planned.Investigators subsequently identified a 15-year-old Corona High School student as a suspect and arrested her.Detectives then executed search warrants at several Riverside County residences, examining electronic devices and communications as they attempted to establish the extent of the alleged plot.The investigation led officers to a second suspect, a 15-year-old girl attending nearby Norco High School, who was also taken into custody."The evidence obtained showed the two suspects had spent several months researching school shootings and discussed how they could carry out a potential attack at Corona High School on an unspecified future date," Corona police said.Investigators said the teenagers had also discussed ways of obtaining weapons, although there was no evidence that they had successfully acquired any."Communications showed the suspects discussed methods to obtain weapons but had not yet been able to do so. No weapons were located during the searches," police added.Teenagers held as prosecutors review alleged murder conspiracyThe two suspects remain detained while the Riverside County District Attorney's Office reviews the evidence and determines how to proceed.Authorities have not disclosed the teenagers' identities, the precise nature of their alleged plans or whether they had selected a specific date for the attack.Police also have not indicated that any weapons were obtained or that an attack was imminent.The investigation involved the FBI, the Riverside County Sheriff's Office and the Corona-Norco Unified School District.Anyone with information about the case is urged to contact Corona Police Department Detective George Edwards at 951-279-3656 or George.Edwards@CoronaCA.gov.The allegations remain under investigation, and neither teenager has been convicted of a crime.