The FBI has revealed that within just 30 minutes of receiving a tip, they foiled what could have been a mass casualty attack at a Texas high school.
Two teenage girls, whose identities remain confidential due to their young ages, were allegedly plotting a violent assault, with weapons including guns and pipe bombs, on Memorial High School in the Houston suburb of Hedwig Village.
Teens planning mass casualty event in cuffs
One of the suspects, a 16-year-old, now faces a third-degree felony charge for making a terroristic threat. Meanwhile, her younger accomplice, aged 15, is being held on unrelated charges.
“We received troubling information, conducted a rapid investigation, shared findings with LE partners, & ultimately saved lives,” stated the FBI office in Houston.
Local news outlet KPRC-TV reported that the 16-year-old had been a student at Memorial High School before transferring to an alternative school, while the younger suspect is currently enrolled at a different high school.
Investigators from the Spring Branch Independent School District (ISD) police department said the girls had detailed plans shared through social media, asserting that the threat was creditable and thought out.
According to ISD Police Chief Larry Baimbridge, “When you read the context of the communication, it’s pretty obvious this is well beyond just throwing some ideas around. This was a very clear plan.”
Mass casualty attack was well planned
Chief Baimbridge further explained that their preparation had been underway for “many weeks, if not months,” and escalated significantly recently.
Responding to questions regarding their motive, he explained, “The only thing I was able to ascertain was there was just an overall disdain for her fellow students.”
Memorial High School has since ramped up its security measures following the arrests. “This incident affirms the importance of awareness and vigilance in protecting our students and staff,” wrote the Willis Independent School District in an official statement.
Similarly, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office highlighted the seriousness of the situation, stating, “We are treating this matter with the utmost urgency and commitment, as threats of violence in our schools will not be tolerated.”
In a separate incident involving delinquent attackers, six preteen girls aged between eleven and fourteen were taken into custody in Washington, D.C., for allegedly launching a series of physical assaults, including a brutal attack on a woman near Union Station.
Social media footage showcased the group relentlessly kicking and punching the woman after she exited the train station.
Adding to the shock, one of the assailants reportedly filmed the assault and encouraged her peers to continue the violence, as revealed by investigators.
Teen girls attack bystanders
Things escalated further when the group turned on bystanders who attempted to intervene. Video evidence uncovered by WJLA-TV showed a suspect pushing victims to the ground, punching them, and even dragging one person by their hair. Fortunately, no serious injuries were incurred during these assaults.
Detectives identified two of the suspects, aged 11 and 13, and arrested them last Thursday on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to riot, simple assault, and disorderly conduct.
Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of four more girls—another 11-year-old, a second 13-year-old, a 12-year-old, and a 14-year-old—all of whom now face similar charges, including rioting and assault with a dangerous weapon.
Law enforcement officials suspect that hate or bias may have motivated these attacks. All six of the young suspects were eventually charged with assault with a dangerous weapon coupled with a hate crime enhancement.
Police say that videos of the assaults began surfacing online last Wednesday, revealing the attack outside Union Station as part of a wider spree of violence.
Investigators are still piecing together the timeline of events and continue to probe the exact motives behind the group’s actions.
