YUMA, Ariz. – A Yuma High School student lands himself behind bars after threatening to shoot people at his school.
It happened Wednesday night and has become the talk of the school, where a 15-year-old boy allegedly posted on Facebook he would shoot up his school if he received one like to his post.
Yuma High School student Crystal Powell said, “I don’t want bad stuff to happen at the school while I’m here. What if one of the bullets goes through the school and then hits one of the students that comes here? And then everybody’s going to be heartbroken about it.”
Law enforcement officials tell us that the student did receive “likes” to that post which left many parents concerned.
One parent said, “I know a lot of people that go to this school and it’s kind of crazy what happened here at Yuma High. Especially when a lot of these people are just trying to better themselves.”
Soon after the post was published, a worried parent reached out to YPD. Screen shots were taken to law enforcement officials to investigate. Police were able to contact the teenager and his parents.
PIO Lori Franklin with the Yuma Police Department said, “Made contact with the individual who made the post and the parents were present. The teenager admitted to doing it but said it was a joke not realizing the severity of it.”
Christy Adams who’s child attends Yuma High School said, “Social media is a big threat especially with things that have happened in other schools through social media and then it’s come to light.”
The juvenile admitted to posting the message but denied that he’d actually commit the crime and mentioned that he had already deleted the post.
Franklin adds, “And a lot of kids are thinking well this is just funny or it was just a joke. We know him he’d never do something like that but the truth is, you don’t know.”
School officials say, “At Yuma Union High School district we strive to make sure that we provide a safe and secure learning environment for all of our students and schools. We take these threats very seriously and will be cooperating with local law enforcement on this case.”