SAN DIEGO (NEWS 8) — A student was questioned by police Thursday over a school threat at Torrey Pines High School.
Police went to the boy's home in Carmel Valley and took the 14-year old in to ask him about a threatening statement he may have made.
Parents and students were startled upon learning that the freshman allegedly announced to classmates he was going to carry out a threat on campus Friday.
Police took it so seriously that they took the teen in custody.
"As soon as we heard about this we acted on it," said Acting Captain Paul Phillips of the San Diego Police Department. “Obviously, in light of everything that’s been happening as you know, we’re taking anything and everything very seriously."
Freshman football teammates of the teenager say the student told others he was going to do a shooting at the school assembly on Friday.
“Usually he makes jokes like that and he makes kind of dark-themed jokes, but he never really does any of that stuff – and, to be honest, he’s always been nice to me," said a teammate of the boy.
Police said the school and some students reported the threat to officers who showed up to his home with a K9 unit.
"Their goal is to act on this as quickly as possible [and] make sure everybody is safe," said Capt. Phillips.
Police talked to the boy’s parents who were cooperative and walked him out as he was handcuffed at home with a tie-dye sweatshirt and black shorts on and seated in the back of a squad car.
“In the end, our whole goal is, obviously, to keep the school safe..." said Capt. Phillips. "And to get him the help that he needs."
Many parents were shocked, saying they heard nothing about the threat.
"That’s really scary and I think that something needs to be communicated to us," said parent Melanie Wentworth. "I’m glad my child is not going to school tomorrow, because she’s going away to a sporting event, so I can maybe figure things out, because this is unnerving."
One parent got a text message from his daughter who said she overheard that another student is planning a shooting at the school Friday.
This makes the 7th school in San Diego County this week, since the Parkland, Florida, massacre, where reported or rumored threats have increased police presence on school campuses in Vista, San Marcos, Point Loma and three in Clairemont.
Friends of the detained teen say the boy should not be taken seriously.
“I mean when you make jokes like that that is what you were going to get," said his teammate. "I’d rather have that than to take the slightest chance... a 1 percent chance of him coming to the school and doing a shooting."
The school here never went on lockdown but there has been an increased officer presence on campus.
This case is still actively being investigated. Anyone with any information regarding this case is asked to contact CrimeStoppers at 888-580-8477.
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