WINNIPEG — Two teens are awaiting sentencing as adults after admitting they plotted to randomly gun down people at two high schools, a university and a church.

A 17-year-old male and his 18-year-old girlfriend, who was underage at the time, pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiring to commit murder. They cannot be identified under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

They also faced multiple charges of break and enter along with several firearms offences when they were arrested in January, but those charges were stayed.

In a brief hearing Tuesday, the two told a youth court judge that they understood the charge and the consequences of pleading guilty. They also agreed to have their case raised to adult court.

"His plea has been one that he has consulted on with me extensively and with his parents in depth over a great period of time," the young man's lawyer, Greg Brodsky, told the judge.

"He has agreed he is guilty of this offence."

After the hearing, Brodsky wouldn't discuss the plea or his client's state of mind. But he did say conspiracy to commit murder is a "serious charge."

A sentencing hearing is expected to take place in the next few weeks when a judge will consider a joint recommendation from the Crown and defence.

Although the two will be sentenced as adults, the judge could order them to serve their time in a juvenile facility or provincial jail.

Prosecutor Susan Baragar wouldn't say what sentence the Crown will recommend. There is no minimum sentence for conspiracy to commit murder, she added.

Details of the plot are expected to come out during the sentencing hearing.

Police allege the two were targeting "pretty much anyone that was going to get in their way" at two Winnipeg high schools -- Lorette Collegiate and Fort Richmond Collegiate -- as well as at the University of Manitoba and the Church of The Rock.

Police said they were going to use guns and rifles that had been stolen from a home in Portage la Prairie, Man., last fall but haven't offered a possible motive for the planned rampage.

"These persons allegedly intended to randomly harm numerous persons," Const. Jacqueline Chaput said at the time. "We're aware of one specific person that may have been a victim, but other than that, all the other potential victims would have been randomly selected. They were focused on attaining their goals but luckily we thwarted those goals."

The two teens were described as quiet "goths" who didn't have many friends. The young man's parents have said the case has been overblown.

In an interview with the Winnipeg Free Press, family members called the two deeply depressed and angry.