Emilio Lopez, 17, and a juvenile are accused of conspiring to carry out the shooting at Pasadena Memorial High School.
According to records, an investigation into the case began on Nov. 25 after a parent reported that her daughter received alarming screenshots showing the two students discussing plans for mass violence at the school on Dec. 1.
Witnesses, including a student and an anonymous friend, confirmed the Instagram accounts used in the messages belonged to the alleged suspects.
Records state that screenshots showed the teens were talking about guns, ammunition, planning the attack strategically, and "beating the cops to their office."
Another witness reported receiving a text from one of the suspects stating, "Don't come to school on Monday."
In addition, Lopez had allegedly posted photos of himself holding guns on Instagram around the same time.
Authorities also confirmed Lopez had a social media threat earlier this year and a prior juvenile assault arrest.
Both suspects have been charged with conspiracy to commit capital murder. Their next court appearance is just after the first of 2026.
Eyewitness News reached out to Pasadena ISD, which sent the following statement:
Pasadena ISD is aware of the arrest of two students who allegedly conspired to commit acts of violence. Parents and staff of Pasadena Memorial High School were immediately notified of the situation during the Thanksgiving break.
At this time, there is no active threat to Pasadena Memorial High School. The District continues to cooperate fully with authorities. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Pasadena ISD Police Department, the Pasadena Police Department, and the US Marshals Gulf Coast Violent Offenders and Fugitive Task Force for their professionalism and immediate response to the threat.
Our priority remains the safety and well-being of our students and staff. We are committed to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment for all. We are thankful for our community's continued partnership in promoting safety.
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