PALMDALE – A 14-year-old boy was taken into custody Friday for allegedly making criminal threats, which triggered two lockdowns at Palmdale High School, authorities said.
The incident began around 8 a.m. Friday (Nov. 7), when the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station received a 9-1-1 call from the parent of a Palmdale High School student, according to Sgt. Theresa Dawson of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station.
“The parent advised she saw several threats on social media stating there was going to be a shooting at Palmdale High School,” Dawson stated. “Lancaster Station’s School Safety Unit immediately placed Palmdale High School on lockdown and responded to investigate the threats.”
Dawson said investigators were not able to “identify the origin or legitimize the original threats,” so the school lockdown was released. Several parents said the lockdown was lifted around 9 a.m., but then the school was placed on lockdown again, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
“Additional threats were posted via social media depicting firearms,” Dawson stated. “Based on the additional threats, Palmdale High School was again placed on lockdown.”
This time, school investigators were able to identify the person making the threats via social media, according to Dawson.
She said the investigation led deputies to the 38800 block of 4th Street East in Palmdale, where deputies found the 14-year-old boy.
“Deputies contacted and detained the subject, who admitted to making the threats,” Dawson stated. “One replica ‘Airsoft’ semi auto handgun was recovered at the subject’s home.”
The 14-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of making criminal threats, and the investigation is being handled by Lancaster Sheriff’s Station detectives, according to Dawson.
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Concerned says
I have worked for this district for over 15 years, the deputies do not even come to work well after students have started…. About two hours later…. We have brought this concern to district and they have done nothing to correct it.
CorrectedInfo says
@lancaster resident: Although it doesn’t really matter who gets the credit when a turd like this is taken off our streets, unfortunately Sgt. Dawson passed on some incorrect info here. The 911 call came into Palmdale station, who dispatched several Palmdale deputies and a supervisor to the school. Yes, most of the school deputies are based out of Lancaster, but the PHS deputy wasn’t at school yet. Palmdale patrol deputies quickly arrived and secured the school, coordinating efforts with school security until the PHS deputy and other school deputies arrived. School and Palmdale patrol deputies then worked to find the source of the threat. Once it was determined to be only an unconfirmed rumor at that point, the school was taken off lockdown. Over the next few hours, deputies from Palmdale station, using police resources, continued digging into the source of the rumors. Once they discovered a few new leads and a credible threat, the school was placed back on lockdown. School deputies worked at the school to obtain more information from students, while at least 5-7 Palmdale patrol deputies (more assisting between other calls), plus detectives and supervisors, spent the next few hours going to several locations, and interviewing numerous people. Finally, those Palmdale deputies and supervisors, and the school deputy supervisor, located the kid who posted the threats and arrested him at an apartment complex in Palmdale. The case was then turned over to detectives at Lancaster, because that is where the school detectives for the school district are stationed. Thank you LASD, and especially our boys in Palmdale!
KayDee says
I should’ve known that Lancaster deps didn’t do anything but swoop in at the last minute to take all the credit. That’s what they do in Lancaster, from the mayor on down… Smh!
ernie says
You people exagerate everything if there where any proffesionals looking at the.pictures you would clearly see that its an air soft weapon and the kid is a front from the start trying to show off
SMH Really? says
Airsoft or not he should be arrested for making the criminal threat. Are you saying that he should be just slapped on the wrist, seriously?
DesertFlower says
This kind of crap happens everywhere, all my kids graduated from PHS they were active in sports in the medical program, all went on to college. I’ve heard worse things from Valencia HS lately. Good job on the part of the Sheriff Department!
Dianna says
But it dosent say why he Was threatening him and his pregnant girlfriend where jumped! I’m not saying what he did was right but they should tell the whole story.
lancaster resident says
I found it interesting that lancaster sheriff’s had to do the job for Palmdale. Is that because Palmdale sheriff’s are incompetent? Just a thought
joe says
The Lancaster sheriffs are school deputies. The school deputies respond to all schools calls if back up is needed , not just the schools they report to. Palmdale regular patrol, detectives where there also. The cities work together to help each agency. Thankful for the help. shouldn’t matter who showed just that it was handled!
chris says
Joe, your comment was very well put. Nice job…
Irena says
AVHSD is a multi city district with the officers based out of Lancaster. Probably because the HS headquarters are in Lancaster.
Steve says
No big deal at PHS, this stuff has been going on since the 70’s.
nikki says
We need to start raising our kids alot better maybe all this wouldn’t happen.
Ecmuniz says
I agree with you. If only parents took the time to actually raise their children with values, manners, educated, showing them to respect each other and (the right way), things like these would not be happening. It is a shame. I see it everyday where I work.
Terry says
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
KaylaElyse says
Palmdale high school has always had these problems. I went there from 9th to 10th grade and transferred when someone pulled a knife out in front of me and started chasing someone he saw riding a bike home from school. The sickest thing about this incident is when I turned the corner of a neighborhood I’d walk through to get home each day, the mom of the guy with the knife made a getaway almost as if she approved of her sons actions. I told my parents and they moped me right out of that school and into independent study.
ford says
I’m glad it was resolved, These social media is a bunch of [removed] startn stuff going on, [removed] don’t u know police be on it too, A good way to rat urselfs out!!!!!
kia says
this [removed] makes me lose more and more faith in humanity. Im glad that people were on it in my city and didnt allow this to happen, i have a niece and two daughters that go to this school. People need to pay more attention and schemes like this wouldnt get legs