PASADENA, Texas – Two Pasadena Memorial High School students were arrested late last month suspected of trying to orchestrate a mass shooting at the school, according to Harris County court documents.
Emilio Lopez, 18, is facing charges of conspiracy to commit capital murder. Prosecutors say he conspired with another student, a juvenile defendant who is also facing charges but is not named in court documents.
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According to court documents, another student at Pasadena Memorial High School told her parent she was scared after she received a screenshot from a friend, regarding two students planning to commit acts of violence against the school.
Alleged Texts Between Suspects
Some of the text messages between Lopez and the other suspect, according to court documents, read:
- “F--- it at this point I’m tempted people want to hate me anyways I’ll give them a reason to hate me”
- “No like deada-- let’s do this at this point, I got 2 shot guns and plenty of ammo”
The juvenile defendant then responds with:
- “Soon brother soon”
- “We can’t just do this in a fit of rage no no no”
Lopez follows with: “Just let me know I got everything from slugs to birdshot”
The juvenile says: “This has to be planned strategically”
Lopez: “Okay bet but you’d probably have to use pump action until I get the right barrel for the AK-12″
The juvenile: “AK- 12 [smiley-face]”
Court documents say Lopez’s father told investigators that the firearms at their residence are secured. Lopez was arrested as a minor back in 2023 for a family violence assault case.
Lopez posted a $100,000 bond and is currently out of jail. His next court date is Jan. 7, 2026.
Pasadena ISD Responds
Pasadena ISD released 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."