Three teenagers arrested for false reports of threats at school and weapons on campus

BUCKEYE, AZ — Across the Valley, at least three teens were arrested this week in connection with spreading false rumors about school violence or guns on campus as law enforcement was inundated with false threats.

Buckeye police said they received more than 300 reports from concerned citizens about threats of shootings at schools across the city. While investigating the threats, Buckeye police arrested a 13-year-old student at Bales Elementary School and a 17-year-old student at Buckeye Union High School.

Police said they received a tip from the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center about threats of a school shooting at a Buckeye school. Investigators were able to determine that the threat allegedly came from the 13-year-old Bales student. The student was tracked down and arrested and faces charges, according to Buckeye police.

The 17-year-old is accused of sending a text message saying he saw a gun in the restroom at Buckeye Union High School. That text message was then shared on social media by at least one other student, leading to the school being placed on “lockdown” while police investigate. The 17-year-old faces criminal charges and school disciplinary action.

“The Buckeye Police Department takes every threat seriously and investigates them with the safety of our community in mind,” Buckeye Police said Thursday. “We would like to remind everyone to report social media posts that contain violence or threats of violence rather than reposting them.”

Additionally, false threats against schools were reported in several other cities in the Valley this week, including recent ones in Surprise, Glendale and Phoenix. A 14-year-old student was arrested on Sept. 9 in connection with an online threat against Valley Vista High School.

Glendale police also say they are aware of threats being made, including to schools in the city. Glendale says they have not found any credible threats in their city and if it is discovered who is making the threats, they will be arrested and prosecuted.

“We at the Glendale Police Department take all threats seriously and investigate them all,” the Glendale Police Department said in a statement. “A threat is a crime. When that threat escalates to the point where it disrupts school life, the crime becomes a felony. These threats are not jokes. If we catch students making these threats, they will be prosecuted.”