Murrieta Student, 14, Makes Threat At Local High School: Police

MURRIETA, CA — Murrieta police this week arrested a teen for allegedly making threats toward a local high school, the agency announced Tuesday. The Vista Murrieta High School student, who was not identified, was taken to Juvenile Hall on a criminal threats charge, police said.

Murrieta police learned of the alleged threat around 6:30 p.m. Monday when "a credible law enforcement source" informed them of a "generalized threat of violence" that had been posted to Snapchat, officials said.

"The threat was directed at a school," Murrieta Police Lt. Tony Conrad said in a news release. "While the threat did not name any specific school, the Murrieta Police Department began actively investigating the anonymous post."

Police soon discovered that the post had originated from Vista Murrieta High School.

"Working with school officials, Murrieta Police School Resource Officers were able to identify the juvenile responsible for the threatening post," Conrad said.

Once officers contacted the teen responsible, he admitted to making the social media post, according to Conrad.

"The 14-year-old male Vista Murrieta High School student admitted to the officers that while he did generate the post, he had no intention of following through with the threat," the lieutenant said. "[He] was placed under arrest for criminal threats and booked into Juvenile Hall."

Conrad stressed that "all credible threats" in the local schools are taken seriously by the police department.

"Generally, arrest(s) are made and criminal charges are filed when probable cause exists," he said. "The police department works closely with the school district on these investigations."

Anyone with more information related to the incident was asked to call the city's School Resource Officer, Rob Aberle at 951-461-6806.

— Patch file photo by Maggie Avants