Berkeley High School Mass Shooting Plot Foiled: Cops

BERKELEY, CA — A teen suspect has been arrested in connection plotting a mass casualty event at Berkeley High School, the Berkeley Police Department said in a news release Wednesday.

The suspect, a 16-year-old boy, was arrested Monday on suspicion of possessing destructive device materials and threatening to commit a crime which will result in death or great bodily injury after turning himself in, police said.

The boy’s arrest followed a tip that he was trying to recruit other high school students to participate in a school shooting at BHS that included explosives, police said.

A BPD spokesperson declined to say whether the suspect is a current or former BHS student, or if he has any other ties to the school, referring questions to the Berkeley Unified School District.

A BUSD spokesperson said they could not provide additional information about the suspect.

The BPD said the agency received a May 21 tip that the boy was planning a mass casualty event, and that during a search of his home the next day officers found parts to explosives and assault rifles, several knives, and electronic items that could be used to create additional weapons.

Officers on Sunday arranged for the City’s Mobile Crisis Team to evaluate the teen.

Investigators from the BPD’s Youth Services Unit arrested the teen after investigators interviewed witnesses and reviewed the evidence against him, police said.

“We recognize the impact this news may have on our community,” the BPD said in a statement.

“School safety remains a high priority for the Department. As part of that commitment, the Department has a School Resource Officer assigned to Berkeley High School who regularly liaises with school and safety personnel.

“In addition to the School Resource Officer, all officers have access to a range of training and equipment that provide them the protection, skills and ability to rapidly respond to in-progress violence.”

This case remains under investigation.

BUSD Superintendent Brent Stephens issued a statement confirming the district has been in close contact with police during the investigation that led to the suspect’s arrest.

Stephens said the district will conduct it own investigation independent of the police probe.

The arrest follows a shooting at Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park last week that left a 17-year-old boy hospitalized.

Stephens said counseling services will be available at BHS Thursday.

“We want to thank the individuals who came forward to report this threat,” Stephens said.

“Speaking up in this instance allowed for the police to intervene in advance of any harm occurring.”

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the BPD’s Youth Services Unit at (510) 981-5715.