Authorities in Florida say a potentially deadly plot at a local high school was stopped before any harm could occur, after investigators uncovered a scheme by two female students to kill a classmate in a plan tied to the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooter.
Police in Altamonte Springs report that the alleged plan involved a targeted stabbing at Lake Brantley High School and was prevented thanks to an anonymous tip submitted through Florida’s FortifyFL system, which allows students and community members to report potential threats.
The tip was received on Jan. 22, warning that a student intended to carry out a violent attack the following day. Authorities began investigating immediately and coordinated with school officials to intervene.
On the morning of Jan. 23, officers removed 15-year-old Isabelle Valdez from class at 7:38 a.m. to be questioned by school administrators.
Court documents indicate that Valdez identifies as “trans” and goes by the name “Jimmy.”
During questioning with an assistant principal, Valdez allegedly admitted she had been planning to harm another student and had brought materials to school to carry out the attack.
Investigators say she surrendered a backpack containing a knife, gloves, trash bags, and cleaning wipes. Officials confirmed that the knife measured roughly 10 to 12 inches in length, WESH reported.
Valdez reportedly told authorities that the intended victim reminded her of Adam Lanza, the gunman responsible for the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre in Newtown, Connecticut.
Court records indicate she believed that killing the student would create a “blood bond” with Lanza and somehow bring him back to life.
Police say her alleged plan involved confronting the victim in an upstairs bathroom and stabbing him in the stomach or throat.
Investigators also reported that Valdez had been monitoring the student’s movements for months leading up to the planned attack, photographing him, tracking his location on campus, and memorizing his class schedule.
Court documents further note that she sometimes claimed to hear voices instructing her to harm others.
Police say Valdez’s friend, 14-year-old Lois Lippert, knew of the plan and helped gather materials for the attempted attack, including assisting in sharpening the knife.
Authorities uncovered additional details they described as deeply troubling.
Valdez reportedly wrote a letter to her parents apologizing for what she intended to do, which she planned to deliver after the attack.
Investigators also noted she brought cigarettes and a lighter to school, telling officials she planned to smoke afterward because she expected to be arrested.
After their arrests, the teens were placed in a police vehicle, where investigators say their conversation was recorded. Police documents indicate the girls discussed the plan and laughed during the exchange.
“Valdez told Lippert that she was going to use makeup this morning for her mugshot, but she could not find anything,” the report states, according to The Blaze. “Valdez then said, ‘It’s over.’ Lippert replied, ‘Yeah, it’s over. It doesn’t matter if you look good or not.’”
The recording also captured discussions about a blood pact connected to Lanza and speculation about who may have alerted authorities.
The mother of the targeted student later praised the anonymous tipster for preventing the attack.
“The hero of this story is the tipster,” she said, according to WFTV. “This person literally saved my son’s life.”
Both teens are facing attempted premeditated murder charges and are being prosecuted as adults.
Authorities say the case underscores the importance of reporting suspicious behavior and acting quickly when potential threats emerge in schools.
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