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Two teenagers were arrested Thursday after authorities announced they were plotting to carry out a mass shooting at a Florida college.
The 13 and 14-year-old boys were charged with conspiracy to commit a mass shooting after a student told a teacher one of them had a gun in his backpack at school on Wednesday Intermediate Harns Marsh in Lehigh Acres, about 15 miles east of Fort Myers, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marcelo said at a press conference.
“It could have been the next Parkland massacre, but we stopped them at the planning stage,” Marceno said, referring to the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 people dead.
Marcelo continued, “We were a second from a Columbine here. I am sure my team of dedicated assistants and detectives acted quickly, investigated thoroughly and prevented a very violent and dangerous act from being clerk. “
Investigators searched the bag of an eighth-grade student after being warned, but could not find a gun, the sheriff’s office said. Instead, MPs found a map of the location of the school’s security cameras.
An investigation determined that the teens were allegedly studying the Columbine massacre on April 20, 1999, planned by two troubled students who murdered a dozen classmates and a teacher before committing suicide, Marcelo said. Authorities also accused the teens of trying to learn how to make homemade bombs and buy guns on the black market.
MPs executed search warrants at the homes of the two students and found a gun and several knives, according to the sheriff’s office. In total, Marcelo said authorities searched the boys’ homes almost 80 times.
The two boys were evaluated at a mental health facility, according to Marcelo.
Harns Marsh Middle School and Lee County School District did not immediately respond to an NBC News request for comment on Friday.
Principal Alex Dworzanski told NBC affiliate WBBH of Fort Myers that the school is safe.
“I applaud the students who have stepped forward to point out the threat and the swift action of the staff,” Dworzanski said. “The safety of our students and staff is at the heart of our business. “
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