CHULA VISTA, Calif. — Chula Vista Police arrested a 12-year-old student in connection with threatening messages, including one that claimed the sender would commit a school shooting.
The messages led to fear on multiple Chula Vista school campuses and prompted many students to leave school on Tuesday, police said.
The Chula Vista Police Department School Resource Officer Unit on Monday received a report of a school shooting threat that was sent via text to a 12-year-old student at Bonita Vista Middle School on Saturday.
Officers did not initially believe the threat was credible, but immediately began an investigation and implemented safety precautions. The school notified parents of the investigation.
As officers investigated, they determined the threatening text was actually created by the same middle school student who reported the message to the police.
Police arrested the student around 11 a.m. Tuesday on charges including criminal threats and filing a false police report.
Earlier Tuesday morning, screenshots of the text message circulated on social media and prompted unsubstantiated rumors of potential threats at nearby schools.
Officers are continuing to investigate the incident and ask that anyone with information contact San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
