PHOENIX — Several Arizona teens are facing felony charges after multiple schools have reported mass shooting threats being posted online.
Police departments across Arizona have released statements about how they have been "inundated" with reports of these social media threats and that some of the threats appear to originate outside of Arizona.
14 teens are currently facing misdemeanor and some felony charges for threats made toward schools in Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Buckeye and Prescott Valley.
One of the teens said they were "dared" to make a threat. The teen is now facing multiple felonies, including terroristic threats and computer tampering, police said.
Here is a list of areas that have received threats and how many, if any, arrests were made:
Phoenix
A teenage boy was arrested on Sep. 19 by Phoenix police for his alleged involvement in posting mass shooting threats on social media regarding 12 different Valley schools. He was arrested five days after Phoenix police officers were made aware of the threats.
Phoenix police said in the days following the threats, 6,000 student absences were recorded at those schools.
The boy allegedly admitted to making the threat in response to a dare by a peer group. The teen was booked and is facing multiple felonies, including terroristic threats and computer tampering, police said.
Mesa
In Mesa, police identified multiple children who were allegedly involved in making threatening statements to "shoot up" a school. Four are facing possible charges.
One of the incidents involved a social media threat reported on Sept. 17 titled "The List" and contained the names of Stapley Junior High students. Mesa police said the list was created back in March by a 13-year-old who was charged with disrupting an educational facility and other charges are currently pending.
On Sept. 19, officers became aware of a new list of names circulating around Stapley Junior High. Police have identified a suspect and are continuing to investigate.
These other incidents have been investigated by Mesa police in the last week:
- On Sept. 12, Students at Eastmark High School reported hearing another student say they wanted to "shoot up" the school. Police identified a 17-year-old suspect who could be facing charges of making threats.
- On Sept. 13, other students at Eastmark High School reported hearing another student make threats. Police referred a 13-year-old to juvenile court for possible charges.
- On Sept. 13, a 15-year-old was referred to juvenile court after Mountain View High School students reported someone was making threats.
- On Sept. 16, Bush Elementary School received a call from someone reporting a shooter on campus. Officers determined there was no shooter and the 11-year-old caller is facing charges.
Surprise
The Dysart Unified School District advised students and parents that threats circulating online are false and not credible.
In a statement released Thursday, the Dysart school district said social media posts have been making potential threats toward various schools. But these posts have been linked to "identified hoaxes" seen in neighboring school districts.
El Mirage
The El Mirage Police Department said it has received reports from some in the community concerned about the possible threats. Police wanted to reassure everyone that the "threats are not tied to our school, district, or city and that there is no known credible threat."
"These threats, circulating on various social media platforms, have been investigated and were determined to be false. Similar social media posts have been reported to neighboring school districts and linked to identified hoaxes on social media," police said in a post to X (formerly Twitter).
Tucson
Tucson police have reported several incidents of threats against multiple schools, including images showing various schools in the Tucson area.
Three juveniles, including an 11-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy, were arrested after more than a hundred 911 calls were made in relation to social media threats targeting schools.
On Sep. 20, the Tucson Police Department identified and arrested four additional students, including:
- A 13-year-old student was arrested on Sep. 17 and is facing charges of disrupting an educational facility, and one count of threatening or intimidating.
- A 14-year-old student was allegedly involved in a fight with several of his classmates and may have been armed. He was later discovered to have been making threats via social media, police said. He was arrested and is facing a charge of using electronic communication to terrify, intimidate, threaten or harass.
- Officers responded to a high school in eastern Tucson for reports of an armed student and detained two 14-year-old students. Police recovered a gun magazine from one of the boys, but no firearm, and the second boy had two knives. They are both facing multiple charges, police said.
Tempe
Tempe Union High School District said Thursday it is working with law enforcement to investigate threats seen circulating on Snapchat.
"While the investigation is ongoing, it does not appear to be a credible threat," the Tempe district wrote in a statement. "Over 100 schools across Arizona have received similar posts, which seem designed to create fear and unrest specifically in school communities."
Buckeye
The Buckeye Police Department said it received over 300 reports from concerned citizens about threats of school shootings last week.
Chief Bob Sanders said the main threat started online in Ohio but was reposted and modified for Arizona schools.
None of the posted threats turned out to be true, Sanders said.
"From a department perspective, all threats we consider credible," Sanders said. "They're all concerning and there's parents out there worried about their children."
Buckeye police said a 13-year-old girl was arrested Thursday after officers received a tip about a school shooting threat. A student at Buckeye Union High School was also arrested Thursday for allegedly making a false report about a gun on campus.
Prescott Valley
Another juvenile was arrested in Prescott Valley after the student allegedly made threats involving Liberty Traditional School. Prescott Valley police confirmed that there was no actual danger to the students or the school, and there are no other pending threats, police said.
An additional officer was stationed at the school to "ensure the safety of and security of the students and staff," the police said in a news release.
"We urge parents to engage in conversations with their children about the serious implications of making threats, even if done in jest, and to emphasize the responsible use of social media," Prescott Valley police said in a news release. "It's crucial for children to understand that their actions on social media can have a profound and lasting impact on the entire community."
Threats disrupt student learning
Since the recent deadly shooting at a school in Georgia, multiple law enforcement agencies throughout Arizona have reported investigating possible school threats.
"Unfortunately it's very normal to have a contagion effect," school security expert Dr. Kenneth Trump said. Trump is the president of the National School Safety and Security Services.
The problem, Trump said, is that school officials need to address a potential threat without disrupting the school, which may be the sole intent.
“School leaders need to assess and then react, not react and then assess," he said. "And you have to be prepared that if you assess and evaluate a threat not to be credible, to be able to heighten your security procedures.
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