RANCHO BERNARDO, Calif. (KGTV)--Three Rancho Bernardo students were placed in police custody following two separate threats that prompted the temporary lockdown of two Poway Unified School District schools Thursday afternoon, according to the San Diego Police Department.
School officials called the police at 12:07 p.m. about a threatening message found in a campus bathroom that was written on a yellow sticky note indicated impending violence, officials said.
During the investigation, police determined that there were two threats made by students.
The first threat was posted on Snapchat yesterday of three 18-year-old Rancho Bernardo students posing with airsoft weapons, Capt. Stephanie Rose said.
The message accompanying the Snapchat photo was threatening in nature and read something to effect of "tomorrow it's done," Rose said.
Two of the three males involved in the Snapchat post were located off-campus and taken into police custody and one was subsequently arrested. The third male had not yet been found but police said they were attempting to locate him through family members. The three men could face charges of making terrorist threats, Rose said.
Then, today the yellow sticky note threat was found, which read "At 1:10 a white boy is going to shootup the school."
Students began taking pictures of the note and posting it on social media, officials said.
A 16-year-old male student allegedly sent that post of the bathroom note plus the post of the airsoft threat to a 15-year-old female student saying he hoped she was the victim of the shooting.
The boy was arrested on campus and could face charges of annoying and molesting a juvenile, Rose said.
Rose said the students who made the original threatening Snapchat post said they thought the social media post "was funny." She cautioned parents to discuss with their children how posts of a similar nature are serious and not funny.
No weapons were found on campus.
Poway Unified School District also placed neighboring Bernardo Heights Middle on lockdown as a precaution. Shortly before 2 p.m., the schools lifted the lockdowns. RBHS students were set to be released for the day, while students at BHMS were to resume their school day.
Students that take the bus from RBHS will be allowed to wait there until 2:30 p.m. and BHMS students will have the same normal pickup time, the district said in a letter to parents.
A Snapchat photo of the bathroom note was provided by a parent to 10News photojournalist Virginia Creighton.
A message sent to parents from the school's principal David LeMaster read:
"Dear Bronco Families, Our school is going into lockdown. There was a note found in one of our bathrooms with a concerning message. We have called San Diego Police Department and officers are on their way. We are going to stay in lock down until we have more information and direction from SDPD. We will be keeping students in their rooms until the campus is determined to be safe. We will notify you with any updates."
This is breaking news story. We'll update this story as more information becomes available. 10News reporter Grecia Aguilar is on her way to the scene.
Sandy Coronilla is a KGTV digital producer. Follow her @10NewsSandy
Rancho Bernardo HS on lockdown. Note found with a concerning message. SDPD on the way. Waiting for info and direction from officers.
— Poway Unified (@powayusd) May 18, 2017
Bernardo Heights Middle School next door will also go on lockdown as a precaution.
— Poway Unified (@powayusd) May 18, 2017
Lockdowns are being lifted.
— Poway Unified (@powayusd) May 18, 2017
