On May 30th, Berkeley Police officers arrested a teenage boy after receiving a tip that the teen had been recruiting other high school students to participate in a mass shooting and/or bombing at Berkeley High School.
On Saturday, May 21st, we received a tip that a 16-year-old boy had attempted to recruit other high school students to participate in a school shooting at Berkeley High School that included explosives. After receiving the initial information, patrol officers obtained a search warrant for the residence. Patrol officers executed the search warrant the following day and arranged for the City’s Mobile Crisis Team to evaluate the teen.
When the patrol officers searched the teen’s residence, they discovered parts to explosives and assault rifles, several knives, and electronic items that could be used to create additional weapons.
When investigators from the Youth Services Unit took over the investigation, detectives interviewed witnesses, reviewed the evidence, collaborated with our law enforcement partners, and obtained a warrant for the teen’s arrest.
During the course of the investigation, the Department worked with Berkeley High School staff and communicated with Berkeley Unified School District officials to keep them apprised of any safety-critical information.
On the afternoon of May 30th, the teen turned himself in to Berkeley PD. The teen was arrested on suspicion of possessing destructive device materials and threatening to commit a crime which will result in death or great bodily injury.
We recognize the impact this news may have on our community. School safety remains a high priority for the Department. As part of that commitment, the Department has a School Resource Officer assigned to Berkeley High School who regularly liaises with school and safety personnel. In addition to the School Resource Officer, all officers have access to a range of training and equipment that provide them the protection, skills and ability to rapidly respond to in-progress violence.
This case remains under investigation. If you have any information about this incident, please contact the Department’s Youth Services Unit at (510) 981-5715.
Case 2022-00023433
