Nationwide trend of school shooting threats hits Stanislaus County. Newman juvenile arrested
Modesto school officials and police released statements Friday about threats of school shootings — found to not be credible — made on social media.
And in the city of Newman on the West Side of Stanislaus County, police announced the arrest Friday afternoon of a local juvenile in connection with threatening posts made on social media.
The Modesto Police Department stated it was aware of “images and threats posted on social media” regarding shootings that were supposed to occur Friday.
“Student safety is our top priority. You will see an increased police presence at our schools today to ensure the safety and security of our students and staff,” read MPD’s social media post, which asked residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity.
An email about the threats was sent to families and staff of Modesto City Schools by Deputy Superintendent Brad Goudeau on Friday. The email stated the threats were circulating widely throughout Stanislaus County but reiterated they were found to not be credible. MPD apparently informed MCS the social media post originated in Southern California and not locally.
“I know that seeing threats against schools, whether they are posted on the internet or shared in some other way, is very concerning,” read Goudeau’s email. “Please rest assured that the Modesto Police Department has confirmed that this threat is not a credible threat.”
The email went on to state that school days would proceed as usual and ask students to not repost threats on social media, but rather report them to a trusted adult.
The threats appear to be part of a nationwide trend, according to several news outlets.
In the Sacramento area, the San Juan Unified School District said four of its schools were targeted on social media, The Sacramento Bee reported. Threats were made against Silverado Middle School, which resulted in the arrest of a 13-year-old boy. The Buckeye Union School District announced it had several schools mentioned in an online post. Rocklin Unified School District also was the subject of a threat made on TikTok. These incidents were reported by the Sacramento-based news agency KCRA.
On Thursday, USA Today reported that a flurry of threats across the nation, some credible and some not, resulted in several arrests of children. The spate of threats came in the wake of the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia.
One of the threatening posts found by Newman police on Thursday named several West Side schools. The subsequent investigation identified a Newman juvenile as the suspect. The teen was arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats and threats to inflict bodily injury or property damage upon public officers, public employees or school officials or employees.
The NPD post said it “will seek prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.” It encouraged parents “to use this opportunity to speak with your children to educate them about the potential consequences and repercussions of such serious actions.”
It encouraged parents to continuously monitor their children’s social media activity.
This story was originally published September 13, 2024 at 2:22 PM.
