Two Arrested in Connection with School Threats in Buckeye, Arizona

The Buckeye Police Department has announced the arrest of two students following a series of threats of school shootings that circulated on social media in recent days. The department received over 300 reports from concerned citizens regarding potential threats at schools across Buckeye, prompting investigations by patrol officers, school resource officers, and detectives.

The first arrest involved a 13-year-old female student from Bales Elementary School. The Buckeye Police were alerted by a tip from the Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center about a threat made by the student. Detectives were able to locate and arrest the student, who now faces criminal charges.

The second incident occurred at Buckeye Union High School, where a student claimed on social media that they had seen a gun in a school bathroom. The post led to the school being held, and multiple officers were dispatched to investigate. It was later determined that the report was false, stemming from a text message received from another student. The 17-year-old male student who sent the original message was arrested and faces criminal charges and school disciplinary action.

Buckeye Police Department emphasized that none of the threats reported were found to be credible. However, they stressed the importance of taking all such threats seriously. They reminded the community to report any posts involving violence or threats to authorities rather than sharing them further on social media.

Both students have been booked into the Durango Juvenile Detention Center.

For further information, please contact the Buckeye Police Department at [email protected].

The information in this article is based on a press release issued by the Buckeye Police Department on 12 September 2024.