A teen student and his father were arrested in connection with a series of alleged threats aimed at Rancho Bernardo High School, San Diego police reported. According to ABC 10News, an assortment of weapons and bomb-making materials were seized from their home, thwarting what could have been a deadly incident at the school.
Early Tuesday, following a tip-off from fellow students who claimed the teen had made disturbing threats, law enforcement sprang to action, swiftly arresting the student and his 45-year-old father, Neal Anders. At their home just blocks from the school, police found "dozens of ghost guns, bomb- and gun-making materials, emergency food rations, and multiple computers." An RPG rocket launcher was also extracted from the premises by San Diego Fire Bomb Squad personnel, as reported by ABC 10News. The duo's arrest has gripped the local community with a disquiet that is hard to shake off immediately.
In a statement obtained by NBC 7, the police confirmed that the campus had been thoroughly checked for explosive devices and that officers would maintain a presence at the school as a precautionary measure. This follows reports made to the police that the suspect had told several students about his plans to execute a shooting at the school today.
Detailing the findings, police said they uncovered "multiple unregistered, un-serialized firearms; manufacturing supplies to make ghost guns (both rifles and handguns) as well as a large number of explosives and rocket-propelled grenades." The father referred to as a "doomsday prepped-style person," was booked into San Diego County jail on several charges. While the fraught scene unfolded, the family's wife and other children were allowed to depart the scene, NBC 7 noted.
Amidst the chaos, Rancho Bernardo High School's principal sent a letter to families commending the students who reported the threats and urging continued vigilance. "I want to commend the students who acted responsibly by reporting what they heard," principal Hans Becker wrote. "Please use this opportunity to remind your children, if they see something, say something to continue to keep our community safe through our collective vigilance." The letter emphasized the school's continued safety and the partnership with law enforcement.
Despite the arrests and security measures in place, classes at Rancho Bernardo High School proceeded as scheduled, with the understanding that the protection of students and staff remains a primary concern.
