2 HS students arrested in murder plot

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MURRIETA, Calif., Aug. 19 (UPI) -- Two California high school students were arrested for allegedly threatening to kill someone at the school, police said.

The Vista Murrieta High School students, both 15 years old, were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder for what police said was their involvement in planning a "serious threat" against students and staff at the school, the Riverside [Calif.] Press-Enterprise reported.

The teens, identified by the Riverside County District Attorney's office as Reed Peery and Samuel Noble, were booked into Southwest Juvenile Hall Wednesday, Murrieta police said.

The Press-Enterprise said the prosecutor's office said California law allows the release of minors' names arrested on suspicion of serious crimes.

Police officials did not reveal details about the threat.

The Murrieta police said Friday in a release they were alerted to an online threat made against a school possibly located in the city. Police assumed the investigation after discovering the plot focused on Vista Murrieta High School.

"It was a very serious threat," Karen Parris, a spokeswoman for the Murrieta Valley Unified School District, told the Press-Enterprise. "It was not an imminent threat. There was a specific date but it was not in the near future."

Parris said one of the arrested students apparently discussed the attack online with someone from the East Coast, who reported the conversation with law enforcement officials.