EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – An 11-year-old girl has been charged with allegedly posting a threat on social media that suggested gun violence would occur Tuesday, Sept. 17 at Sierra Middle School, according to the Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD).
LCPD said the 11-year-old student, who police won’t publicly identify because of her age, was charged with making a threat of a school shooting.
The student received a Class III Juvenile Citation and was turned over to the custody of a parent, according to LCPD.
A Juvenile Class III Citation is equivalent to a criminal citation, or an arrest without detention, according to LCPD.
Late Monday evening, Sept. 16, LCPD received information from Meta security of an alleged threat posted to an Instagram account.
The Instagram post alleged a shooting would occur at 10:30 a.m. Sept.17 at Sierra Middle School, according to LCPD.
LCPD said Meta forwarded account information, including the email address associated with the account, the IP address and other user information.
With assistance from Sierra Middle School staff, LCPD interviewed the student who admitted to posting the threat on Instagram. A search of the student’s backpack yielded no firearms or weapons.
The Juvenile Probation Office was contacted but they denied detention because of the student’s age, according to LCPD.
Las Cruces Police said Monday that it arrested two teens recently for making online threats to carry out shootings at local schools.
Anyone who sees or receives a threatening post is asked to refrain from forwarding it to others, or reporting it, as doing so may cause unnecessary fear and widespread panic, according to LCPD.
Police encourage anyone who sees or receives information that is believed to be threatening to screen-save the content and immediately alert law enforcement by calling 911.
Read: Read More