From left to right: Okeechobee Sheriff Noel E. Stephen, Jupiter police chief David E. England, sergeant Joseph Counihan, officer Christian Wyatt, …

OKEECHOBEE- Two Jupiter police officers were in Okeechobee to be honored for helping stop a potential mass shooting at Okeechobee High School.

The Okeechobee County School Board and Okeechobee County Sheriff Noel Stephen presented Kevin Salas-Lopez and Christian Wyatt a Guardian of the Community award at the school board’s Nov. 14 meeting.

Back on Sept. 18, officer Salas-Lopez pulled over 19-year-old  Henry Horton IV because his vehicle's headlight was out. During the stop, Officer Salas-Lopez asked Horton if he would consent to a search of his car. During the search, he located a bong along with multiple, handwritten pages stating a plan to purchase firearms, and "kill everyone at OHS with my gun."

Speaking with Officer Wyatt, Horton stated that he was planning on killing (an administrator) at Okeechobee High School, which he graduated from in May, 2022. Horton was planning on executing the plan on his 22nd birthday Jan. 2, 2026.

According to the arrest report, once he had killed an administrator, Horton wished to murder another 14 people, accounting to a total of 15 victims. After this plan was executed, he wanted to drive down to Miami, to a church named El Rey Jesus and go on a "stabbing spree" and murder another 10 subjects.

“Nothing we can do or say can thank these gentlemen enough for what they’ve done for our number one assets, which is out children,” said Sheriff Stephen. “This community means more to me than people know. It’s family. Thank you for saving our kids.”

Salas-Lopez said he was grateful to have potentially saved lives.

Jupiter Police Sergeant Joseph Counihan said this case shows the true value of street level police work.

“What Officers Wyatt and Salas-Lopez did was absolutely amazing,” said Sergeant Counihan. “They took a tag light stop and saved countless lives. I’m proud of them."