Murrieta: VMHS student arrested after making threats against other student

UPDATED: 04/28/2016 1 p.m.

MURRIETA – Officials from the Murrieta Police Department arrested a 16-year-old male – a 10th grade student at Vista Murrieta High School – after he allegedly made threats against another student, Monday, April 25, a Murrieta Police official confirmed. The student who was arrested reportedly told other students that he intended to shoot one or more people at the school the following day.

Murrieta PD officials received information from Vista Murrieta High School administration regarding the threat of a school shooting at about 6:27 p.m.

“The investigation was immediately assigned to the Murrieta Police Department detective bureau – working in conjunction with school resource officers,” Murrieta Police Lieutenant Ron Driscoll wrote in a press release about the investigation and arrest. “The Murrieta Police Department works daily and diligently with district personnel to provide a safe educational environment for the youth in our city.”

Detectives contacted numerous witnesses related to their investigation and quickly identified a VMHS student as the one who made the threat. Detectives contacted the student, who admitted to officers that he made statements of shooting another student while at school earlier that day.

“According to the student, the statement was intended to be a “prank” towards the other student,” according to Driscoll. “The statement was clearly not taken that way.”

Based on the threats detectives arrested the student. He was later booked into the Southwest Juvenile Hall for allegations related to the threat and for possession of an illegal weapon. The alleged suspect was booked for suspicion of reporting and/or causing a false emergency and possession of a “gravity knife.”

“The Murrieta Police Department takes any threats of violence towards students and district staff very seriously,” Driscoll explained. “Those who choose to make threats of any sort, whether intended as a legitimate threat or a prank will be investigated by the Murrieta Police Department and charged accordingly.”

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact the Murrieta Police Department Juvenile Investigations Unit at (951) 461-6361. Callers can refer to incident file number 1604M-5806 and can remain anonymous. Citizens can also provide information anonymously through “We Tip” at 1-800-78-CRIME.

 

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