CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) – A 12-year-old student has been arrested Tuesday in connection with a threatening message that caused fear and confusion across three Chula Vista schools, police said.
The Chula Vista Police Department began investigating the threat on Monday after a Bonita Vista Middle School student reported receiving a text over the weekend that claimed a shooting would take place at the school.
Police said the threat was never confirmed, and the fear at Bonita Vista Middle School, Rancho Del Rey Middle School, and Discovery Charter, was fueled by misinformation floating around online.
On Tuesday, authorities determined that the 12-year-old student who initially reported the threatening message had fabricated it. The student was arrested around 11 a.m. and later released to a parent.
The student is facing charges of making criminal threats and filing a false police report.
In a message posted on the department’s X account, police stated:
“SRO INVESTIGATION: On Sat., a Bonita Vista MS student received a threatening message which was reported to CVPD & school staff on Monday morning. SROs worked w/school staff to investigate & send messaging to parents. There was never believed to be a credible threat to the campus.
Images of the ‘threat’ may have been distributed to students at other schools including RANCHO DEL REY MIDDLE and DISCOVERY CHARTER, creating concerns about threats at other campuses.”
Despite police calling it an unsubstantiated threat, each school sent out a message to parents alerting them of the rumors. Additionally, police stepped up their presence at each campus on Tuesday.
Some concerned parents and loved ones showed up after classes had already started and picked up their students from the schools.
Officials with the Chula Vista Elementary School District, which Discovery Charter is under, said it “does not tolerate threats of any kind and will hold those making threats accountable for their actions to the furthest extent.”
Sweetwater Union High School District officials said, “The district is aware and is fully collaborating with law enforcement as this remains an active investigation. Further, our district does not tolerate threats of any kind and will work diligently to hold those making such threats accountable to the furthest extent.”
