Another Murrieta School Threat Lands Another Teen In Jail

MURRIETA, CA — Two days, two social media threats against Vista Murrieta High School. That's what police and school officials say they faced this week, as two teens allegedly posted threats against the school online.

The latest threat came on Wednesday, according to police. Around 9 a.m., police got word of a "generalized threat of violence towards a school" that was posted on the social media site Instagram.

Police said the threat did not name a specific school, but officers soon identified a 16-year-old boy who made the disturbing post, according to Lt. Mark Reid.

"The... Vista Murrieta High School student admitted to officers that while he did generate the post, he had no intention of following through with the threat," Reid said in a news release.

Still, police say they take "all threats towards our schools, students and staff" seriously and "when probable cause exists, criminal charges will be filed against offenders."

Just one day earlier, another Vista Murrieta student was arrested on suspicion of a similar threat. In that case, a 14-year-old boy posted a threat on Snapchat, police said. Officials said after that arrest that the teen also admitted to making the threat, but had "no intention" of following through.

In response to the recent arrests, the Murrieta Unified School District issued the following statement:

A second Vista Murrieta High School student was arrested today because of a copycat threat that was posted on Instagram. The post contained a generalized threat of violence that did not mention a particular school or community.

Please understand that while the police determined this was not a credible threat, Murrieta Police and the Murrieta Valley Unified School District take threats of violence like this very seriously. These types of threats are no joking matter; the consequences are very serious and they can have a negative long-lasting effect on students’ lives.

Although students may believe that their social media posts are anonymous, it is important to know that all posts, particularly threats, on any social media platform can be traced back to the user’s phone or computer. Threats are a very serious matter and they are considered a felony. Students who make threats may be referred for expulsion from school and can face criminal punishment.

We commend the individuals who reported this post and implore all parents and guardians to talk to their children about how inappropriate and life-altering these threats can be for the students responsible. It is important that we work together to ensure that our students and families feel safe in our community.

Anyone with information related to either incident, is urged to contact School Resource Sergeant Dave Baca at 951-461-6308

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Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone