Two teenage girls arrested in investigation into Pixley Middle School shooting threats

An anonymous tip has led Tulare County Sheriff’s deputies to arrest two 13-year-old girls in an investigation into shooting threats at Pixley Middle School.

Additionally, a gun and ammunition were seized during the investigation, deputies said.

Deputies received information on Thursday leading to the arrests for the threats, allegedly made Feb. 15. A 13-year-old student of Pixley Middle School was arrested on Feb. 15 after he allegedly threatened to “shoot up the school.” He was booked at the Juvenile Detention Facility.

Investigators learned of the threats through TipNow, a program that receives anonymous tips through email, text and voicemail. The service indicated several students at Pixley Middle School might be involved in a recent terrorist threat. Based on the information, detectives responded to the school and contacted the students they believed were involved, according to a sheriff’s office news release.

During the investigation, detectives interviewed the two female teens and confirmed they were involved. Their parents were notified, the release said.

Officers then obtained two search warrants and seized one firearm, assorted ammunition and several gun magazines. The seized gun was voluntarily given to detectives by a relative and was taken for safekeeping, according to the release.

The two teens were arrested on Thursday and booked at the Juvenile Detention Facility in Visalia.

The threats come after a shooting rampage at a Florida high school that claimed 17 lives on Feb. 14.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Detective Webb at 1-800-808-0488, anonymously at tcso@tipnow.com or by text or voicemail at 559-725-4194.

This story was originally published February 22, 2018 at 10:56 PM with the headline "Two teenage girls arrested in investigation into Pixley Middle School shooting threats."