Teens Named in Threats Against Vista Murrieta High School

MURRIETA – Police arrested two teens last week after on-line threats against students and staff at Vista Murrieta High School were discovered.

Reed Perry and Samuel Noble, both 15, were identified by the Riverside County District Attorney’s office on Wednesday as the two teens that had been booked into Southwest Juvenile Hall in nearby French Valley. Neither the police nor school district officials would divulge the nature of the planned attack. “But,” said Karen Parris, a school district spokeswoman, “it was a very serious threat.” The threats and arrests took place days before the opening of the 2012-2013 school year which was Aug. 21.

California law permits the release of juvenile suspects when serious crimes are committed. In this case, according to D.A. spokesman John Hall, the charges are conspiracy to commit murder. A spokesman said both students were still in custody. Minors who are found guilty of violent crimes can be held up to age 25.

On Aug. 8, both the FBI and Riverside County Sheriff’s Department alerted Murrieta police that online threats had been made against a school that might be in their city. One of the students had reportedly engaged in online conversation about a planned attack with an unidentified person on the east coast. That person reported the conversation to authorities. The threats were posted on a website that allows users to communicate anonymously.

A specific date was planned for the attack, said a school official, adding that Vista Murrieta Principal Darren Daniel sent an automated telephone message to parents last Friday that alerted them to the incident and arrests. Police would not release additional information about the threats posed due to the involvement of minors, but a statement from Riverside County District Attorney Paul Zellerbach said, “We are taking it very seriously.”

Vista Murrieta High School is located just off Interstate 215 on Clinton Keith Rd.

Read More:

SWRNN.com: Two students arrested on suspicion of planning attack at Vista Murrieta HS

Press-Enterprise: Uneventful start of school at Vista in wake of threats, arrests

Murrieta Patch: Vista Murrieta High School Bounces Back after Alleged Threats