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Parents, Students Grateful For 'Text-A-Tip' Line After School Threat Is Thwarted

By Tom Mustin

HIGHLANDS RANCH, Colo. (CBS4) - Two teenage girls are in custody after an alleged plot to kill students and staff at Mountain Vista High School.

"I don't know what's going on with our kids, but we've got to figure this out," Mountain Vista parent Lisa Lebofsky said.

Lebofsky had plenty to say after Tuesday's announcement of a credible threat against the school by the two female students.

"You send your kids off to school thinking they're going to be safe, then you get an email like this. It's really shocking," Lebofsky told CBS4's Tom Mustin.

TEEN SCHOOL THREAT 10PKG.transfer
Mountain Vista parent Lisa Lebofsky is interviewed by CBS4's Tom Mustin (credit: CBS)

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office learned of the threat against the Highlands Ranch school on Saturday through the school district's Text-A-Tip line. Both girls were in custody by Monday.

"It sounds like a lot more than saying, 'I was going to do this.' It sounds a lot more planned," said junior Connor Rutt.

MOUNTAIN VISTA HIGH SCHOOL
(credit: CBS)

The sheriff's office says the teens took substantial steps to proceed with their plan, but deputies would not elaborate on the method of the attack or any weapons involved.

Sheriff Tony Spurlock says the teens face felony charges, including conspiracy to commit murder and will be prosecuted.

"We will take action to apprehend the individuals who make threats against the Dougco schools," said the sheriff.

Rutt knows one of the suspects and is grateful she was caught.

Connor Rutt
Connor Rutt (credit: CBS)

"If we were to go to school today and this threat hadn't been found it would have been crazy," he said. "That's the only thing going through my head."

Lebofsky says parents were concerned by the lack of information given by the sheriff's office and the school district.

"I would have liked maybe motivation -- who they were possibly targeting or why. I'd like to know those things," Lebofsky said.

The sheriff's office says the threat is contained and they gave all the information they could without jeopardizing the case. Terrorism is not involved,.They say the bottom line is the Text-A-Tip program worked and the students are safe. Rutt agrees.

text-a-tip
(credit: dcsheriff.net)

"If that person didn't Text-A-Tip, something awful could have happened," he said.

The sheriff's office says the threat is gone and students are safe to go back to school -- weather permitting.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office released a safety statement video on YouTube Tuesday afternoon.

Safety Statement-Mountain Vista High School 12.15.15 by Douglas County Sheriff's Office on YouTube

 

LINK: Text-A-Tip - Douglas County Sheriff

Additional Information from Douglas County Sheriff's Office

If you have any information that pertains to this case, please contact the Douglas County Sheriff's Office at 303-660-7500. For non-emergent information, call the Major Case Tipline at 303-660-7579.

Tom Mustin is CBS4's Weekend Anchor. He has been with CBS4 since 2002, and is always looking for great story ideas. Follow Tom on Twitter @TomCBS4.

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