Police arrest 15-year-old freshman for alleged threats against Clovis West, Buchanan

Law enforcement early Friday arrested a 15-year-old freshman for allegedly making online threats against Clovis West and Buchanan high schools, Clovis Police Chief Matt Basgall said.

Clovis and Fresno police detectives arrested the boy before 2 a.m. Basgall said both departments were contacted by concerned citizens who saw a Snapchat picture of an assault rifle with a warning to both Clovis West and Buchanan students.

There were no weapons found at the boy’s home, Basgall said; detectives determined the photo was from a website. The boy’s family is cooperating with law enforcement, Basgall said.

Kelly Avants, chief communication officer for Clovis Unified, said Friday that the boy is a Clovis West student.

The boy was booked into Fresno County Juvenile Justice Corrections on one count of criminal threats of death or great bodily injury. Basgall said Clovis police and the Clovis Unified School District will have an increased presence on the Buchanan campus today.

Avants said Friday the student copied a picture containing a weapon “from the Internet.” when making the threat. Officials sent messages to Clovis ‘West, Garfield Elementary, Alta Sierra Intermediate and Buchanan High advising students and their families that no credible threat existed and schools would continue normal schedules.

Avants urged parents to talk with their students about the seriousness of making social media threats.

A handful of threats have been made to area schools in the wake of the recent Florida school shooting which killed 17 people and injured many others. In addition, on Thursday a Central High School West student was taken into custody for making alleged threats.

This story was originally published March 1, 2018 at 11:57 PM with the headline "Police arrest 15-year-old freshman for alleged threats against Clovis West, Buchanan."