A Mountain Vista High School murder plot in Colorado was thwarted this week thanks to a text message tip that alerted authorities to two 16-year-old girls' deadly plans.
Douglas County authorities credited a tip sent anonymously through "Text-A-Tip" for giving them information on a plot hatched by the two teens
, who are now in custody, The Denver Post reported. They were allegedly plotting to kill students and teachers this week, according to the newspaper.
"I think the text message and the information we obtained through our investigation saved lives, for sure, given the severity of the situation," Douglas County Sheriff Tony Spurlock told The Post.
The Saturday tip resulted in the two teenagers, both students at Mountain Vista High School who have not been
identified by authorities, being taken into custody, 9 News reported. A pending charge of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder has been filed against them.
"They took, what would feel like a risk as a teenager, of sharing some very important information with adults," Douglas County Schools Superintendent Liz Fagen told 9 News of the tipster. "As a result of that decision, they made a huge difference in the lives of a lot of people."
Fagen said her district has received around 230 tips from the tip line just this school year.
Parents, students and others in the community went online to express their appreciation for authorities and for the teenager who sent in the Text-A-Tip information.
On the
Douglas County school district Facebook page, authorities said, "While there is little more we can say at this time due to the investigative process, we want you to know that many of the safety systems we have in place worked well — did their jobs successfully, and it was through these systems, including our partnerships with law enforcement and our families, that this threat was successfully disrupted."