A 15-year-old California girl said she really didn’t want to shoot up her school, but posted terror threats online to gain traction on her social media account, police say.
ABC 30 reports that Fresno police arrested the high school teen after receiving tips that she made a disturbing threat on Snapchat about shooting up Edison High School in Fresno. She also allegedly posted numerous photos of guns on display at a local Walmart store.
According to the outlet, The FBI contacted local authorities who sent an officer to girl’s school. Authorities pulled the student out of class after she took a school bus to a different high school that she attends for morning classes.
The student allegedly admitted to making the threats but claimed she only did so because had to make a certain number of posts to keep her social media account relevant. It’s something police said they didn’t buy, adding they may never know the student’s true intent. They added, however, that authorities don’t believe the student planned to go through with the threat.
Officers later found a pellet gun at the student’s home. She was subsequently arrested and charged with making terroristic threats.
“She [was booked] at the juvenile campus and will be facing a substantial amount of time in custody,” Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer said during a press conference.
“This is a highly intelligent student….unfortunately, she has potentially ruined her future.”
Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer is holding a press conference about a shooting in central Fresno and a social media threat of violence at a Fresno Unified school.More on the shooting: https://abc30.com/5469499/
Posted by ABC30 Action News on Thursday, August 15, 2019
The reported incident happened days after another girl also allegedly threatened to shoot up her school. According to KEYC, a 15-year-old Albert Lea High School student in Minnesota made a similar disturbing threat on social media. She was also arrested and was taken to a juvenile detention center.
“She did indicate to us that she didn’t think it was going to be taken seriously, and she had no intent,” Sgt. Steve Charboneau of the Albert Lea Police Department said, according to KEYC.
The story continues to develop. Check back with Crime Online as additional details become available.
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