Southern California teen arrested for allegedly plotting school shooting
A student at a private school in the Inland Empire who was arrested over the weekend is facing multiple felony charges after an investigation revealed an alleged plan to “carry out an active shooter attack” at the school, authorities announced Wednesday.
The threat to Ontario Christian High School, discovered by another student who informed school officials, was made last Thursday. Authorities at the school said they immediately reported the threat to police.
The student, identified as 18-year-old Sebastian Villasenor of Eastvale, was found with more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, seven rifles, two revolvers, a handgun and a shotgun, police said.
The firearms, according to reporting by KTLA’s Shelby Nelson, were registered in the name of the teen’s parents who cooperated with police during the investigation.
“What we discovered through the course of our investigation revealed that Villasenor had every intention of carrying out a school shooting at Ontario Christian High School … and was in the process of choosing a specific date to carry out the school shooting,” Ontario Police Chief Michael Lorenz said at an afternoon press conference.
Authorities added that the 18-year-old was obsessed with school shootings and had been researching tactical gear and police response times to these types of incidents.
Investigators said Villasenor was particularly focused on the Columbine High School shooting, which occurred on April 20, 1999, in Littleton, Colorado. Two students, both seniors, murdered twelve other students and one teacher during the horrific tragedy.
“April 20 this year happens to be on a weekend, so we believe it was going to be some time around that time frame,” the chief said of Villasenor’s possible schedule for carrying out his plan.
A student at Ontario Christian High School for two years, Principal Ben Dykhouse said Villasenor had no prior disciplinary record that would have indicated that he might attempt a school shooting.
Neither did he have a police record or any criminal history, authorities added.
“As its related to Villasenor’s motive, we have been able to determine from interviews he was not bullied or harassed. He did, however, have difficulties in forming relationships with other students and in social interactions,” Lorenz said.
Authorities believe his choice of potential targets, reportedly five or six people at the school, at least some of them students, were chosen based on previous social interactions he had with them.
“There was not a hit-list, there was not a manifesto,” Lorenz said. “It was through interviews and our investigation that we were able to determine who the [potential] victims were.”
Villasenor remains in custody and has been charged with one count of attempted criminal threats and five counts of attempted murder, a news release from the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office stated.
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“Thanks to the swift and thorough response of Ontario Police Department, and the bravery of the student who voiced concerns, tragedy was avoided and potentially lives were saved,” the release stated. “Our Office wants to remind everyone in our communities across San Bernardino County that active shooter threats are always considered serious, and if you see something, say something.”
The 18-year-old is scheduled for an arraignment on Feb. 15.
Anyone experiencing a mental health crisis or feels that they need someone to talk to can call the 24-hour Suicide and Crisis Hotline at 988.
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