Police arrested a 13-year-old girl Tuesday they say is behind threats of violence against a Riverside middle school. The allegations come amid a spate of social media threats against schools across the country that have alarmed law enforcement, parents and administrators.
Riverside police said the student, who was not identified, targeted Chemawa Middle School in at least two social media posts Friday, including one in which she listed names of classmates, causing many parents to pick up their kids early from school.
Law enforcement did not disclose the nature of the threats or what social media platform they were on. But they said that once school safety officers received tips over the weekend identifying the student, police searched her home and determined she did not have access to weapons. Officers then arrested and booked the girl at a Riverside County juvenile detention facility on suspicion of making criminal threats against the school and students.