According to the Riverside Police Department, officers launched a School Threat Assessment and Response (STAR) investigation Monday night after parents from Central Middle School flagged a concerning Instagram post.

Police said the post showed a student holding what looked like a gun and contained a list of classmates’ names. Investigators worked through the night to identify the boy with help from the school resource officer.

According to police, a search of the student’s home uncovered a “realistic” toy gun, and the boy was arrested and booked into juvenile detention on suspicion of making criminal threats and conspiracy. Investigators said they expected a second student would also be charged with conspiracy.

The arrest comes amid a wave of similar social media threats reported in Southern California and nationally in recent weeks, leading to the arrests of students as young as 11.

Police in Riverside ask that threatening posts be reported to the city’s non-emergency line at 951-354-2007. Social media posts that suggest potential school violence, but without a specific threat, can be reported via the Atlas 1 mobile app.

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The incident in Riverside is the latest in a rash of threats plaguing California schools in recent weeks, prompting police investigations, school lockdowns and arrests of suspects as young as 11. Over the last week, authorities have also investigated non-credible threats at schools in the Bay Area and in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego counties.

In Riverside, where a student was recently for allegedly making threats at Arlington High School, police said another incident happened Friday at Chemawa Middle School.

“This caused significant concern among parents, prompting many to withdraw their children early due to safety fears,” the department wrote on Facebook. “Our school resource officers promptly launched an investigation to trace the origin of this threat and ensure the safety of the school community.”

Police said tips rolled in over the weekend concerning a student believed to be responsible for the threat. On Tuesday, the school resource officer identified a 13-year-old girl as the alleged culprit. She is accused of posting a threat on social media, followed by a second post naming “targeted classmates.”

According to investigators, a search of the girl’s home confirmed she had no access to weapons. She was booked into a juvenile detention facility on suspicion of making criminal threats. Following the arrest, police leaders reiterated the serious consequences of making any kind of threat, even if it turns out to be a hoax.

“These recent disruptions to our schools must stop immediately so that our children can focus on their education,” said Larry Gonzalez, Riverside’s police chief. “Students who make threats of school violence on social media or by other means will face strict criminal consequences and severe disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion. We will not tolerate any behavior that undermines the safety and security of our schools.”

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File # MV232210443

Details:

On Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at about 10:45 p.m., deputies from the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station received a call for service regarding harassing phone calls. During the investigation, deputies learned the suspect and the victim attended the same high school, that a series of messages were sent to the victim that rose to the level of a hate crime, and that the messages the victim received were a credible threat.

Based upon this, investigators from the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station and Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station Special Enforcement Team served a search warrant at a residence on the 15000 block of Ninya Avenue, Moreno Valley. During the service of the search warrant, a handgun and fireworks were located. The suspect, who is a 17-year-old juvenile was taken into custody and booked into juvenile hall for criminal threats, hate crimes, and harassing phone calls.

Anyone with additional information related to this case is encouraged to contact Investigator Allen at the Moreno Valley Sheriff’s Station by calling (951) 486-6700.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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On Thursday, January 20, 2022 three local schools received threats of an explosive device from an unknown phone number. The caller in each of the phone threats appeared to be the same person, and made similar threats to each school. The schools were placed on lockdown and additional law enforcement resources were deployed to ensure the safety of the students and staff. After a security search was conducted each school was deemed safe and the lockdowns were lifted.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department Hemet Investigations Bureau began an immediate follow-up investigation. During the investigation, digital evidence was located and traced back to a juvenile subject who resides in the city of San Jacinto. The subject was located and no bomb making materials or firearms were located.

The Sheriff’s Department is confident this investigation revealed this was an isolated incident and there are no pending threats to public safety. This case was forwarded to the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office for filing consideration.

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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On March 23, 2021, at 9:00 A.M., deputies assigned to the Coachella Community Action Team (CCAT), with the assistance of the Southern Coachella Valley Community Service District Team (SCVCSDT), served a search warrant at a residence in the 86-100 block of Las Flores Drive in the city of Coachella.  The search warrant stemmed from a brandishing of a firearm investigation. Robert Soto, 18 of Coachella, was arrested for brandishing a firearm and making criminal threats. The weapon used in the incident was recovered at the residence. Soto was booked at the John Benoit Detention Center in the city of Indio.

Anyone with any information regarding this incident is urged to contact Deputy Camarena with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department at (760)863-8990, or Crime Stoppers at (760)341-STOP (7867).

For media inquiries regarding this incident please contact the Media Information Bureau.

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Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact Deputy McCoy at the Thermal Sheriff’s Station at 760-863-8990.

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