Student, 17, arrested for alleged social media threat against Ramona High School

Leticia Juarez Image
Monday, November 18, 2019
Student, 17, arrested for alleged threat against Riverside school
A 17-year-old student was arrested for an alleged social media threat against Ramona High School in Riverside, police said.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (KABC) -- A 17-year-old student was arrested for an alleged social media threat against Ramona High School in Riverside, police said.

Riverside police said multiple reports were received Sunday night of a possibly threatening social media post toward the high school. School officials alerted police when made aware of the possible threat around 8 p.m.

After an investigation, police identified the student alleged to have made the post and arrested a 17-year-old male student. The teen did have shotgun shells in his possession but not a gun, according to police.

"We haven't found any weapons. We don't know if he even had any. We don't know if the social media post he made depicting a firearm or weapon was even a real weapon or not," said Officer Ryan Railsback.

Police said the student will be booked into Riverside County Juvenile Hall on suspicion of criminal threats and illegal possession of ammunition.

"The Riverside Police Department and Riverside Unified School District takes all suspicious social media posts regarding our schools very seriously and will follow all protocols to maintain the safety of our school community," the police department said in a post on Facebook.

Ramona High School said classes will remain in session Monday with a normal schedule, but an increased police presence on campus is expected.

The identity of the student was not released because he is a juvenile.

An investigation is ongoing.