Four students connected with a detailed plan to shoot and kill students at a California school have been arrested, according to reports.

The pupils from the Summerville High School in northern California “were going to come on campus and shoot and kill as many people as possible at the campus,” Sheriff James Mele of Tuolumne County said on Saturday.

Mr Mele did not identify the students, only saying all were male juveniles, according to The New York Times.

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This news comes just days after Chris Harper Mercer allegedly killed 10 people at a community college in Oregon.

Tuolumne, where the school is located, is about 190 kilometres east of San Francisco. 

Authorities found no definitive motive for the planned shooting.

Mr Mele said the plans included names of intended victims, locations and how the plan was to be carried out.

The students intended to shoot people at a school event and “were in the process of trying to obtain these weapons,” Mr Melo said.

The plot was foiled on Wednesday after students alerted a teacher when they overheard three of the four discussing a plan to open fire on the school.

The teacher told school administrators immediately and the students were removed from class and police were called.

According to The New York Times, no weapons were found in the lockers of students or in their possession.

However, Mr Melo indicated the attack was not far from being carried out.

No parents of students on the list had been informed.

Eric Hovatter, an assistant district attorney, said charges would be filed going on evidence from an investigation.

“It is clear from past history such as Columbine and Sandy Hook, as well as other recent events in Oregon, that children are willing and capable of planning and carrying out acts of violence against students and teachers on school grounds,” Mr Hovatter said.