Anaheim teen arrested for allegedly threatening school shooting spree on Instagram

A freshman at Anaheim's Western High School was arrested Tuesday night for allegedly threatening to carry out shootings at several Orange County high schools Friday.

The 14-year-old boy allegedly made the threat through an Instagram post, said Kristina Hamm of the Anaheim Police Department.

The teen threatened to commit acts of violence through multiple school shootings at his school, Magnolia High School in Anaheim, Cypress High School and Buena Park High School, Hamm said.

"A concerned Western High School student contacted Anaheim Police Department Sunday evening after seeing a troubling Instagram post screenshot on a Snapchat account,'' Hamm said.

"APD personnel worked closely with school staff and neighboring police departments to quickly identify the student responsible for the plan.''

The student was identified and arrested before the school shootings that were threatened to occur on Friday, per his Instagram post, Hamm said.

The boy was arrested for suspicion of making criminal threats and will be booked at Orange County Juvenile Hall, Hamm said.

"The investigation has not revealed the student had the actual means or capability to carry out the threats and the schools are considered secure and safe,'' Hamm said.

"However, the timely notification and quick response highlights the partnership between the school districts, local police departments, and APD, as well as our mission to provide a safe learning environment for Anaheim's youth.''

Hamm added the arrest also should serve as a message to the school district that the police department "takes these threats seriously and swift enforcement action will be taken in accordance with the letter of the law.''

"Parents, staff, and students are encouraged to 'See Something, Say Something,''' Hamm said.