CHS student cited for social media post

A female Calexico High School sophomore was cited and released Tuesday after she reportedly posted on social media that a school shooting would take place at CHS.

A social media post made on Snapchat has been traveling throughout schools in the Imperial Valley over the past few days, with the school the threat is directed toward changing each time.

The post was originally found Monday and directed toward Southwest High School in El Centro.

It stated, “attention every southwest kid!! group of kids are planning to shoot the school Monday 9th during 1st or 2nd lunch.”

Students have since screenshot the post, changed the name of the school and shared the post online.

An assessment by El Centro Police Department and Central Union High School District determined that the message did not likely represent a credible threat to the safety to the campus.

This, however, caused panic between students and parents, which led to an early dismissal and closure of campus at SHS, as well as at Central Union High School, on Monday.

On Tuesday, Calexico Police Department, in conjunction with Calexico Unified School District, was able to backtrack a post directed toward CHS.

CPD identified the female student who made the post. She was arrested at the school Tuesday, cited for utilizing an electronic device to threaten or harass, and was released to a parent.

As a precautionary measure, CPD sent extra police officers to patrol the campus as soon as the department became aware of the post.

On Tuesday, CUSD issued a public statement advising there would be an additional law enforcement presence on Tuesday and throughout this week, with police and Border Patrol agents patrolling the areas surrounding CHS.

“Due to the recent security issues at Southwest and Central High School in El Centro, we would like to be proactive and cautious to ensure that our students continue to be safe,” CUSD Superintendent Carlos Gonzales said in the statement.

Administration at Wilson Junior High School in El Centro and Brawley Union High School in Brawley also found posts directed towards their respective schools.

WJHS and BUHS both remained opened Tuesday after each of their school districts conducted an investigation.

On Tuesday afternoon, a student at Holtville High School in Holtville was suspended for reposting the same social media post and insinuating a threat be made to HHS.