Southern California Boy, 12, Is Latest Arrested in Spate of School Threats

Sheriff's deputies were first alerted to a possible threat made by the suspect six days before at a school in Jurupa Valley, about 50 miles east of Los Angeles. Detectives investigating the threat obtained evidence that led them to search the suspect's Moreno Valley home on Sept. 18.

Evidence was collected at the home, but no firearms or dangerous weapons were found, according to the sheriff's department.

The boy was arrested and booked into juvenile hall on suspicion of making criminal threats. The investigation is ongoing, according to the sheriff's office.

The arrest was the latest in a spate of online and verbal threat incidents involving students in California and the nation. A deluge of false school threats has been posted to social media—mostly TikTok, Facebook, and Snapchat.

The social media posts made by a Modesto High School student were investigated and appeared to be part of an online hoax or scam. The threats impacted the community significantly, according to police.

The student was placed in juvenile detention.

In the second case, a student at Hanshaw Middle School was arrested after his classmates allegedly overheard him threatening to shoot up the school, according to police.

In other parts of California, a student at McClatchy High School in Sacramento was arrested on suspicion of making a shooting threat against the school. Police investigated the threats and arrested the 14-year-old Monday night.

The Sacramento police said they were working with school districts in the community to ensure the safety of students and faculty.

In Stockton, a 16-year-old student from Lincoln Unified was arrested Monday on suspicion of making threatening social media posts.

Police said the threats were unsubstantiated, and the student faces counts related to making the threat.

"We want to ensure parents and students realize that making threats can lead to disciplinary action at their school, including potential legal consequences," the department said in a press release Tuesday.