Police say a planned killing was disrupted before a student was hurt.
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — A late-night tip about a planned killing at Lake Brantley High School triggered a fast-moving response that ended with two teenage students pulled from class and arrested, authorities say, before a classmate could be attacked.
Police and court records described by local outlets say the warning arrived around 11:30 p.m. on Thu., Jan. 22, and claimed a student intended to kill another student at school the next day. By the following morning, investigators and school administrators were coordinating to locate the suspected student, secure potential evidence, and keep the campus calm. The case has since moved into adult court, and prosecutors have argued the seriousness of the allegations requires continued detention.
According to police reports summarized in court coverage, the older teen, Isabelle Aurelia Valdez, was first flagged by a tipster as “Jimmy.” Investigators said Valdez was contacted late that Thursday and that her phone was seized. By early Fri., Jan. 23, law enforcement was on alert and the school was preparing to intervene as soon as the students arrived. Police accounts say administrators removed Valdez and her best friend, Lois Lippert, from first-period classes shortly after they were confirmed to be on campus. A security guard and school staff helped move the students to an office for questioning, police said.
In one description of the questioning, Valdez was asked if she planned to hurt herself or anyone else. A police account said she paused and acknowledged she had thought about hurting someone, and that she had prepared items she believed were needed. Officers later reported recovering a knife from a backpack, along with other materials that investigators said matched the alleged plan, including gloves and other supplies. Police also reported finding a note and, in some accounts, additional items such as a camera. Early documents released publicly included heavy redactions, but later descriptions of unredacted records offered a clearer picture of what investigators believe the teens were preparing to do.
Those later records described an alleged fixation on the Sandy Hook school shooting and the shooter, Adam Lanza. Investigators said Valdez stalked the intended victim for months, took pictures of the student, and posted content online tied to that obsession. Police said she chose a target because she believed the student resembled Lanza. Investigators described a plan that included confronting the victim in a specific part of the school day and carrying out an attack in a bathroom the student was known to pass. Authorities have not publicly identified the intended victim, and many personal details remain shielded because the case involves minors and a school setting.
Police said Lippert is accused of helping Valdez prepare, including gathering items connected to the plan and assisting with a weapon before the school day began. One account said Lippert brought flowers to campus and helped test or sharpen a knife. Prosecutors have treated the two teens as partners in a premeditated plan, while defense filings have sought release and raised issues about the teens’ mental state. A legal analyst quoted in local reporting said a note attributed to Valdez, written shortly before the planned attack, could become a major point in any argument over intent and responsibility.
The decision to handle the case in adult court has drawn strong attention in Seminole County. In a first court appearance described in local reports, a judge ordered the case transferred to the adult division. Prosecutors have said the allegations, the planning described by investigators, and concerns about community safety supported that move. The teens face attempted premeditated murder charges, and prosecutors have opposed pretrial release, arguing the defendants are dangerous and that strict supervision would not eliminate the risk.
School and district officials have focused much of their public messaging on the role of the tip and the speed of the response. In a statement carried by local coverage, officials said they were grateful to the person who provided the information and credited collaboration between school staff and law enforcement for resolving the situation safely. The case has also become a flashpoint for broader debate over teen mental health, social media, and how quickly dark online behavior can turn into real-world planning. Some reporting has described investigators reviewing messages, online posts, and the contents of a backpack to build a timeline of what was planned and when.
As the case moves forward, court dates are expected to address detention, evidence, and the next procedural steps in adult court. Prosecutors have cited recorded statements and the seriousness of the plan in arguing for continued detention, while defense lawyers have sought release while trial preparations continue. The next milestone is a hearing scheduled for next week, when the judge is expected to weigh public safety concerns against any proposed release conditions.
Author note: Last updated March 5, 2026.