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PD: 15-year-old arrested for threatening to 'shoot up' Gilbert school

Posted at 4:14 PM, May 21, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-22 13:02:40-04

A 15-year-old boy was arrested last week after he was overheard making threats to "shoot up" his East Valley high school.

Gilbert police Sgt. Darrell Krueger said officers conducted interviews on Friday with several Highland High School students about a comment that a teen made to another student.

According to Krueger, police discovered the 15-year-old was frustrated about his grade and stated that he was "going to shoot up the school."

The boy was arrested for the threatening comment and booked into juvenile detention.

"Our department takes school threats very seriously and we will continue conducting thorough investigations, and take appropriate enforcement efforts, to maintain student safety," Krueger said.

Sarah Robinson has a freshman and junior at Highland High School and says she didn't find out about the threat until Monday morning after her kids were already dropped off at school. 

Robinson said she's okay with not finding out about the incident until after the weekend but wishes the school would have released more specifics. 

"I don't need to know who, but it would be nice to know exactly what the details were to know what kind of dangers there are. It kind of makes you feel a little uneasy."

A Highland parent sent us forwarded the following e-mail from Highland school administrators. A second parent verified its validity with us. 
 

"Dear Hawk Families:

On Friday we were made aware of a threat that a student had made toward a teacher and Highland High School. After investigating in coordination with Gilbert Police department it was determined while there was no legitimate threat, there was cause for appropriate discipline and legal action to be taken. 
We appreciate your support of our ongoing commitment to school safety.

Regards,

Melinda Murphy
Principal 
Highland High School"

We reached out to Gilbert Public Schools late Monday afternoon for more information but did not hear back. 

The threat was made the same day ten people were killed and ten others wounded in a shooting at Santa Fe High School in Texas.

Highland High School is located near Recker and Guadalupe roads. 

RELATED: See map of school shootings reported so far in 2018