ONTARIO, Calif. – A student at Ontario Christian High School was arrested Saturday for planning to carry out a shooting on campus.
Authorities say Sebastian Villasenor, 18, had “every intention” to go through with an active shooter attack, reports ABC7. Police searched his home and seized seven rifles, three handguns, a shotgun, and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, reports the Daily Bulletin. The weapons were legally owned by the teen’s parents, reports Fox11.
Authorities say the suspect had mapped out the distance between the local police station and Ontario Christian High School to determine law enforcement’s response time to the shooting, had a “hit list” of five or six Jane Does who were also students, and was in the process of selecting a date to carry out his attack. Police believe Villasenor may have wanted his attack to happen on or around the anniversary of the April 20, 1999 Columbine High School massacre.
Villasenor’s alleged school shooting plan came to light when one of his classmates expressed concerns about the suspect to school officials. The classmate observed Villasenor being fixated on school shootings and having access to weapons, reports NBC Los Angeles. School officials then notified local police who then conducted a search of Villasenor’s residence.
Authorities are trying to determine the suspect’s motive. He had been attending Ontario Christian High School for two years but was not bullied, according to police. However, he had a hard time making friends with his classmates and was obsessed with the Columbine mass shooting.
School and law enforcement officials thanked the student who reported their concerns about Villasenor.
“That student saved lives, spared families from losing their children and a community from being devastated from a senseless act of violence,” said Ontario Police Chief Michael Lorenz.
On Wednesday, Villasenor was charged with five counts of attempted murder and one count of attempted criminal threat.
