A Steele Canyon High School student was arrested Thursday night, accused of posting a shooting threat on Snapchat.

School officials issued a statement on the school’s website that classes would be held as usual on Friday, but a planned assembly was cancelled.

The officials said only the one student was involved in the threat, and the Rancho San Diego-area school was safe after his arrest.

The 14-year-old boy is suspected of having posted a picture of himself holding what appeared to be a handgun, with a warning that a particular person should not show up for school at Steele Canyon High on Friday, sheriff’s Sgt. Matt Cook said.


He said several students were on Snapchat together, and the handgun photo started spreading about 5 p.m. Thursday. Parents saw it and called the Sheriff’s Department about 5:45 p.m.

Detectives contacted the boy and his parents and learned that the pistol was a BB gun, Cook said. He said the teen admitted posting the picture and acting alone.

The teen was placed under arrest and released to his parents, and the pistol was confiscated, about 10:45 p.m. Cook said the Sheriff’s Department continued getting calls from concerned parents through the night, and some erroneously believed the school would be closed on Friday.

As a precaution, deputies were to run extra patrols at the campus Friday.


The message posted on the Steele Canyon High’s web page said,

“A Snapchat threat was made against the school Thursday evening. Please know the suspect was immediately identified and arrested.

A rumor that other shooters are involved is false according to law enforcement. We are all safe to attend school on Friday. To address concerns today’s assembly is cancelled and the regular bell schedule will be followed.”