Cops Arrest Teen Recruiting Students For Mass Shooting And Bombing At High School

Berkeley, California -- A 16-year-old boy was arrested for allegedly planning a mass shooting at a California high school. Police said the boy tried to recruit other students and was hatching a bombing plot as well.

The unidentified teenager went online about two weeks ago and advertised his idea of carrying out a mass shooting and bombing at Berkeley High School, officials said Wednesday, according to CNN.

One individual informed cops after seeing the teen’s ad online.

After receiving a tip on May 21, investigators obtained a search warrant for the teen’s home and found parts of explosives and assault rifles, along with several knives and electronic items that could be used to make weapons, police said in a press release.

The boy turned himself in Monday. He was arrested on suspicion of possessing destructive device materials and threatening to commit a crime that will result in death or great bodily injury.

“There was a young person in possession of potentially dangerous materials, hearing about a threat to our high school is concerning,” said Berkeley Unified School District Superintendent Brent Stephens, according to NBC Bay Area.

“What’s positive in this particular instance is that somebody, an individual in our community came forward very early to report what they knew to police. The police took immediate action,” Stephens added.

16-year-old Elijah Dupaty, a junior at Berkeley High School, spoke to NBC Bay Area in light of the teenager’s arrest.

“It is kind of crazy that we can’t really go to school without fear of getting shot up and us possibly not making it back home. It’s kind of crazy but it’s a world that we live in,” Elijah told the outlet.

Elijah’s father, Derrick Dupaty, said it is important to keep an eye on children’s social media activity.

“I just think we all need to keep a closer eye and look into our kids’ social media and maybe even the districts need to just hire someone just to watch social media and see what’s going on,” the father told the outlet.

Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguin also released a statement following the news of the teenager’s mass shooting plot.

“As the country continues to reel from a horrific school shooting, it was disturbing to hear a similar plot was being planned at Berkeley High School, which was ultimately foiled,” he said, according to KRON. “I am thankful for the Berkeley Police Department for their thorough investigation and the students who spoke out to raise the alarm.”