Anaheim Teen Arrested For School Shooting Threat: Police

ANAHEIM, CA — Threats to several Orange County high schools led police to arrest a freshman at Anaheim's Western High School, Tuesday evening. The 14-year-old allegedly threatened to carry out shootings at several Orange County high schools Friday of this week, and used an Instagram post as a method of sharing that threat to others, said Kristina Hamm of the Anaheim Police Department.

The unnamed teen threatened to commit acts of violence through multiple school shootings at his school, Magnolia High School in Anaheim, Cypress High School and Buena Park High School, Hamm said.

"A concerned Western High School student contacted Anaheim Police Department Sunday evening after seeing a troubling Instagram post screenshot on a Snapchat account," Hamm said.

Security was increased this week at the four Orange County high schools mentioned in the Snapchat and Instagram posts. High Schools Magnolia, Western, Cypress and Buena Park will see a stronger security presence the remainder of the week, according to ABC7 reports.

The postings warned "essentially that there would be a lockdown at the schools, somebody would come by and possibly inflict violence on the schools," said Sgt. Daron Wyatt with the Anaheim Police Department. "APD personnel worked closely with school staff and neighboring police departments to quickly identify the student responsible for the plan."

The student was identified and arrested before the school shootings that were threatened to occur on Friday, per his Instagram post, Hamm said. The boy was arrested for suspicion of making criminal threats and will be booked at Orange County Juvenile Hall.

"The investigation has not revealed the student had the actual means or capability to carry out the threats and the schools are considered secure and safe," Hamm said. "However, the timely notification and quick response highlights the partnership between the school districts, local police departments and APD, as well as our mission to provide a safe learning environment for Anaheim's youth."

The arrest also should serve as a message to the school district that the police department "takes these threats seriously and swift enforcement action will be taken in accordance with the letter of the law," according to Hamm. "Parents, staff and students are encouraged that if you 'See Something, Say Something.'"

City News Service, Ashley Ludwig, Patch Editor, Contributed to this report.

Renee Schiavone, Patch News Staffer, photo