California students arrested after 'hit list,' rifle found

TWENTYNINE PALMS, California (CNN) -- Two 17-year-old students were arrested on charges of conspiracy to commit murder after authorities found a "hit list" and one rifle in their homes.

MESSAGE BOARD Violence in America

The youths were taken into custody Monday evening, according to a statement from the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

Sheriff's Department spokesman Chip Patterson said a girl overheard the two suspects talking about a list, and she told her father, who notified authorities.

"They didn't know what these boys' intent was -- neither do we -- but we do know they did have a list," Patterson said, saying the list contained the names of 16 students "they considered to be targets."

"I don't know if we'll ever know what their plans were," Patterson said, but he said authorities decided to adopt a "zero-tolerance" policy about threats of violence against schools and acted quickly.

The suspects attended Monument High School in this desert community.

Deputies searched the home of each suspect. In one, they found a .22-caliber rifle. In the other home, deputies found the list.

Both suspects were booked into Juvenile Hall in San Bernardino on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and interference with the exercise of civil rights.

The incident comes two days after two students were killed and 13 other people wounded in a shooting rampage at a suburban San Diego, California, high school.

California school reopens today after deadly shooting
March 7, 2001
Friends of suspect won't be coming back to school Wednesday
March 6, 2001
Investigators: Teen 'reloaded 4 times'
March 5, 2001
Detroit high school shooting injures 3
March 2, 2001
Student dies after shooting outside Baltimore high school
January 17 2001
Student killed in Michigan elementary school shooting
February 29, 2000
Suspect in custody after school shooting in Oklahoma
December 6, 2001

Bishop Neumann High School, Williamsport, PA
Lycoming County

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.