Riverside Middle School student arrested for allegedly threatening school

RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA – A 13-year-old boy is the youngest student in Riverside County arrested after making a threatening post on social media toward his middle school, according to police.

According to Riverside police, officers launched a School Threat Assessment and Response (STAR) investigation Monday evening after parents at Central Middle School reported a concerning Instagram post.

According to police, the post showed a student holding what appeared to be a gun and included a list of his classmates' names. Investigators worked through the night to identify the boy with the help of the school's security guard.

According to police, a search of the student's home found a “realistic” toy gun. The boy was arrested and taken into juvenile detention on charges of making criminal threats and conspiracy. Investigators believe a second student will also be charged with conspiracy.

The arrest comes amid a wave of similar social media threats reported in Southern California and across the country in recent weeks that have resulted in the arrest of students as young as 11 years old.

Riverside police ask that threatening posts be reported to the city's non-emergency number at 951-354-2007. Social media posts that indicate possible school violence but do not pose a specific threat can be reported using the Atlas 1 mobile app.

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