Federal and local law enforcement swiftly intervened to prevent what officials described as a planned “mass casualty attack” targeting Memorial High School in Harris County.
Two teenage girls, ages 15 and 16, were taken into custody after the FBI identified credible threats involving the use of pipe bombs and firearms.
The FBI became aware of the threats on Tuesday and deemed them serious enough to prompt immediate action. By 2:45 p.m., the agency contacted local law enforcement partners in Montgomery County, Harris County, and the Spring Branch Independent School District. Working together, authorities located and detained both suspects within just 30 minutes.
#BREAKING FBI Houston received information yesterday that two underage teenagers from the Houston area were plotting a mass casualty attack at a local school. Our Threat Mitigation Team immediately responded to help @houstonpolice & @MCTXSheriff identify and arrest them. #HouNews pic.twitter.com/FjzPJpGQ0e
— FBI Houston (@FBIHouston) February 20, 2025
“I got the call from the FBI agent we work closely with, who provided credible information. We immediately located the student and went to the school, where she was detained and interviewed,” said Spring Branch ISD Police Chief Larry Baimbridge in a statement to ABC News.
Baimbridge credited the rapid response to strong collaboration between federal and state law enforcement. “This is exactly how information like this should be handled. I’m grateful to the FBI for getting us the information right away, allowing us to act quickly,” he added.
According to FBI Houston spokesman Connor Hagan, the successful operation was a result of coordinated efforts between the FBI’s Houston office, Spring Branch ISD Police, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, and Houston Police Department.
“We took concerning information, conducted a rapid investigation, turned our findings over to trusted law enforcement partners, and ultimately saved innocent lives,” Hagan stated. “This type of situation is exactly why the FBI exists.”
The 16-year-old suspect, a student at Memorial High School, faces a charge of making a terroristic threat, while the 15-year-old is in custody in Montgomery County on an unrelated charge.
Authorities have not yet recovered firearms, explosives, or bomb-making materials in Harris County, but investigations are ongoing in both Harris and Montgomery Counties.
This case comes just a week after the FBI helped law enforcement in Mooresville, Indiana, disrupt another potential school attack following online threats.
Hagan emphasized the importance of collaborative threat mitigation efforts. “We have officers from dozens of local agencies embedded with our agents, working on these threats daily. FBI agents and federally deputized task force officers are essential to keeping our communities safe,” he said.
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