Overview
- A Tennessee teenager reported disturbing online chat messages on May 9, leading authorities to uncover a mass casualty plot targeting Evergreen Middle School in Cottonwood, California.
- Tehama County investigators arrested two teens, aged 14 and 15, who had built and tested improvised explosive devices and planned to kill more than 100 people.
- Search warrants executed at the suspects' homes revealed explosives, firearms, and a manifesto outlining their intentions; the teens also posed as Columbine shooters in photos.
- Prosecutors are weighing additional charges of conspiracy to commit mass murder alongside existing charges of criminal threats and manufacturing destructive devices.
- Authorities have increased security at the targeted school and highlighted the critical role of community vigilance in thwarting potential acts of violence.