SAN RAMON — A California High School freshman who was arrested last month had been methodically planning to commit a Columbine-like shooting at his campus, according to court records.

The boy, referred to in court documents as “John Doe” because he’s a juvenile, planned to use the same guns as those in the Columbine High School shooting and carry out his plot on April 20, 2021, exactly 22 years after that notorious Colorado massacre. He also planned to build bombs and tried to recruit a friend, according to police. He allegedly called the plan “Columbine 2.0.”

During a search of Doe’s home, police seized a tactical vest, camouflage helmet, and a toy shotgun, as well as handwritten notes and digital data, according to court records.

Police said they became aware of the plot when the student whom John Doe tried to recruit told a school resource officer about it. After Doe’s arrest, school Principal Sarah Cranford issued a statement to parents praising the student who came forward.

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“The district considers this offense to be extremely serious and will take appropriate disciplinary consequences as per California Education Code,” Cranford wrote in her statement. “I want to commend our student for doing the right thing and reporting the information to an adult…The safety of our students, staff and parent community is our highest priority, and we take all threats seriously.”

The student told police that the week before, Doe had asked to meet him in private, instructed him to turn off all electronic devices to avoid tracking, and said he wanted to plan a shooting that would be deadlier than Columbine. The student thought he would be a target if he did not cooperate.

The student identified six students whom Doe allegedly intended to kill. The next day, on April 19, police arrested and interviewed Doe, who admitted to hating three of the targeted students.

On April 20, 1999, the Columbine shooters — seniors Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17 — murdered 12 students and a teacher before committing suicide. At the time, it was the worst school shooting in U.S. history.

Harris and Klebold planned the attack for years. They intended to kill dozens with propane bombs, then shoot down survivors. When the bombs failed to detonate, they began firing at fellow students.

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18-year-old man injured in North Oakland drive-by shooting Both Harris and Klebold had written diary entries and said on private videos later obtained by authorities that they hoped the attack would inspire future school shootings. Police believe Doe studied school shootings and visited an online discussion forum for supporters of the Columbine shooting.

About two weeks after Doe’s arrest, at least 50 California High students held a pro-gun rights walkout at the school. It was portrayed as a response to rallies for tighter firearm restrictions enacted following the February mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people — 14 students and three school employees — were killed.