Threats in schools: Police in the West Valley make arrests in several incidents

Officials from two West Valley police departments said they made arrests in connection with two separate incidents involving school shootings.

buckeye

In a statement released Tuesday afternoon, Buckeye Police officials said the person they arrested, a 12-year-old boy, allegedly left a voicemail on a phone belonging to a former teacher at Desert Sunset Elementary School. Police received a report of the voicemail on Saturday, Sept. 21.

“In the voicemail, the caller threatened to 'shoot up' a classroom,” reads part of the brief statement. “The threat proved to be implausible.”

According to the statement, the suspect was arrested on the night of September 23 and faces criminal charges.

Surprise

In a separate statement also released Tuesday afternoon, Surprise police officials said they arrested a 14-year-old in connection with an incident at Valley Vista High School.

“In cooperation with school staff and the Valley Vista High School School Resource Officer, police were able to arrest the student without incident,” Surprise police said in a statement. “The student was not armed and there is no threat to the school or surrounding community.”

Officials said the 14-year-old “admitted to threatening violence” and was charged with making a terroristic threat and disturbing the peace. The student was booked into the Durango Juvenile Detention Center.

“We thank the brave students who stood up to protect their school,” Surprise Police Chief Benny Piña wrote in the statement. “We want to remind students, parents and community members that threats of violence against our schools will not be tolerated.”

This is not the first time in September that Valley Vista High School has been the target of a threat: on November 9 Surprise: Police arrest 14-year-old in connection with a suspected online threat.

“The student admitted to threatening violence as a 'test of courage,'” police said at the time.

Threats at schools have become a problem in recent weeks

In recent weeks, safety concerns have arisen at several schools in Arizona.

On September 12, Buckeye Police announced the arrest of a 13-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy in connection with separate threats against Bales Elementary School and Buckeye Union High School.

On 19 September Mesa police said There were 17 threats of violence in Mesa Public Schools. Six youths were reported to police and charges were filed against them, according to authorities.

On 20 September A teenager in the Prescott Valley area was arrested for her alleged role in a threatening incident involving Liberty Traditional School.

On September 22, a girl was found in Buckeye arrested in connection with a threat at a school in Wisconsin.

We spoke to two high school students about the threats at school on September 13th and they talked about the impact such incidents have on them.

“It's overwhelming,” said senior Miranda Miranda. “We don't need this.”

“I feel like I always think about it somehow at the end of the day,” said sophomore Eliana Conde-Guerrero. “I'm always a little bit scared of that possibility, and the thought never really goes away.”