By SABRINA WALTERS

swalters@herald.com

June 13, 2000, Miami Herald: Miami-Dade County Public School police are investigating an alleged murder plot by two Rubén Darío Middle School students against several classmates and teachers.

School officials said Monday that they suspended the eighth-grade boys, both 14, after administrators found a ``hit list'' naming the people being targeted. ``There were kids talking about getting even with others,'' said Jeff Ronci, Dade schools spokesman. ``The initial thought is that it was a prank, that there was no intent to carry it out. But the investigation will bear that out.''

No charges have been filed, and the district might refer the case to the Miami-Dade state attorney's office, Ronci said.

School Principal Patricia Grimsley notified the parents of students whose names appeared on the list, Ronci said.

He did not say how many people the boys allegedly planned to murder and how they would carry out their plan. Ronci said the students allegedly planned the attacks for Wednesday, the last day of school.

``There was no particular method, or plan on how they would hurt these people,'' Ronci said.

``But they were death threats.''

Grimsley did not return phone messages left at the school, and there was no answer at her home.

Assistant Police Chief Jose Gonzalez said he could not comment on the case because of the ongoing investigation. Rubén Darío PTA President Maryann Sanchez also declined to comment.

Dade school officials have arrested dozens of students and had others committed under the Baker Act after almost daily copycat threats were made after the Columbine High School shootings last spring in Littleton, Colo.

Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris shot and killed 12 classmates and a teacher before fatally shooting themselves. The boys had deliberately planned the attack, and had boasted about their intentions.

They worked from a ``hit list.''

``We take this seriously. The suspensions are evidence of that,'' Ronci said.

``In general, people are more alert and aware of those things since Columbine.''