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Two Florida middle school students have been arrested after 'plotting to carry out mass shooting after studying 1999 Columbine High School massacre'.
The two boys, aged 14 and 13, who are eighth-grade students at Harns Marsh Middle School in Lehigh Acres, near Fort Myers, were arrested on Thursday facing charges of conspiracy to commit a mass shooting.
The alleged shooting plot was discovered after a student tipped off an eight-grade teacher on Wednesday, claiming that one of their classmates had a gun in their book bag.
Eighth-grade students, aged 14 and 13, were arrested on Thursday facing charges of conspiracy to commit a mass shooting at Harns Marsh Middle School in Lehigh Acres, Florida (pictured)
The school resource officer and administration were alerted to the potential threat which led to an investigation from deputies.
They did not find a weapon in the student's book bag but did find a map of the school with markings on it showing each of the school's security cameras.
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said police also discovered other 'disturbing evidence' following a search at the suspects' homes including a gun and several knives.
In a news conference, Sheriff Marceno said: 'Detectives learned the students took an interest in the Columbine High School shooting.
'They were extensively studying to learn more about the incident and the shooters.
'Detectives also learned the students were attempting to learn how to construct pipe bombs and how to purchase firearms on the black market.'
