Crime and Juvenile Justice

Three New York middle school students were arrested this week after authorities say they allegedly plotted a Columbine-style shooting at their school. Law enforcement and school officials say the plot involved a 14-year-old girl who kept journal entries describing an obsession with past mass shootings such as Columbine and Sandy Hook; classmates and a vigilant parent who alerted police are credited with helping to avert the planned attack. Three teens remain accused in the investigation, while a fourth student initially questioned has been cleared of involvement and family members voluntarily surrendered firearms as part of the inquiry.