At least three teens have been arrested this week across the Valley in connection to false rumors spreading about school violence or guns on campuses as law enforcement has been inundated with false threats.
Buckeye police say they have received more than 300 reports from concerned citizens regarding threats of shootings at schools across their city. While investigating the threats, Buckeye police have arrested a 13-year-old female student from Bales Elementary School, and a 17-year-old male student from Buckeye Union High School.
Police say they received a tip from the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center regarding threats of a school shooting in Buckeye. Detectives were able to determine the threat allegedly originated from the 13-year-old female student at Bales. That student has been located and arrested and she faces criminal charges, according to Buckeye police.
The 17-year-old is accused of sending a text message out that said he saw a gun in the bathroom of Buckeye Union High School. That text was then shared on social media by at least one other student, causing the school to be placed on a “hold” while police investigated. The 17-year-old faces criminal charges and school discipline.