Police Address Concerns Over ​Berkeley Mass Shooting Plot Probe

BERKELEY, CA — The Berkeley Police Department issued a statement Thursday addressing community concerns about an investigation that foiled a mass casualty plot at Berkeley High School.

A teen suspect was arrested Monday in connection with planning a mass shooting and bombing at the school, the Berkeley Police Department said in a news release Wednesday.

The suspect, a 16-year-old boy whose name is being withheld because he is a juvenile, was arrested 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 May 21 tip that he was trying to recruit other high school students to participate in a school shooting at BHS that included explosives, police said.

The BPD said there is no indication that BHS is still at risk, and addressed concerns about the timeline of the investigation, notably the nine-day gap between when authorities received the first tip and his arrest.

“We understand the community may have additional questions after hearing the news of our recent arrest,” the agency said in a Twitter thread.

“We want to make clear that the Department does not have any evidence or information to suggest there remains a threat to Berkeley High.

“The suspect is currently in-custody and his items have been seized.”

The BPD said the agency had to wait until investigators compiled enough evidence that a judge would approve a warrant for the suspect’s arrest.

“We knew that the potentially dangerous items seized (knives, assault rifle parts, parts to explosives, & computer equipment) was not the complete picture,” the agency said.

“Further investigation was needed.”

The agency said it was in communication with the suspect’s guardian or attorney and BHS to make sure he would not be on campus “which was the target of his threats.”

“When the investigation reached a point where we could obtain a warrant, the Department made arrangements for the suspect’s arrest,” the agency said.

The BPD said the agency received a tip that the boy was planning a mass casualty event, and that during a May 22 search of his home officers found parts to explosives and assault rifles, several knives, and electronic items that could be used to create additional weapons.

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

“Learning that a student was potentially planning a horrific act of violence in our community is shocking,” the BPD said.

“In many of past mass shootings or acts of violence incidents across our nation, the violence has already occurred and we are better able to see the complete picture. Fortunately, that was not the case in this incident and there was no violence.”

The agency confirmed it is withholding some information amid the ongoing probe.

“School safety remains a high priority for the Department,” the BPD said.

“While there are things we are not able to share because of the active investigation, we hope this additional information answers some of the questions you may have.”