Verbal argument at PV turns to shooting scare after Snapchat rumors spread

Online rumors of a possible shooting circulated among Pleasant Valley High School students March 5.

What started as an argument between two Pleasant Valley High School students hurling mundane insults at each other last week quickly took on a life of its own on social media, including threats of shooting up the school.

On March 5, Chico police were alerted to Snapchat messages about a possible planned shooting, according to a Chico Police press release.

Sgt. Mike Williams, PV school resource officer, said after the initial argument, rumors began circulating that one of the involved students was going to "shoot up the school" during a school rally Friday. Police said that the rumors named one of the two students involved in the earlier argument, but that neither of those students were found to have originated the Snapchat posts.

No names are being released at this time because everyone involved was a minor.

Williams said the investigation lasted two days and included both a search of the house and locker of the student named in the online rumors and the arrest of the student who was found to have originated the rumors. Criminal charges of internet harassment led to the arrest of the rumor originator.

Police found no weapons such as guns or bombs in the house or locker of the student named in the threats.

Williams said that police take all threats as serious, even online ones, and that people need to be aware of what they post, and what the consequences of those actions could be.

“Some kid’s name was thrown in the mud over social media. We’re gonna hold anyone accountable for such actions,” he said.

Verbal argument at PV turns to shooting scare after Snapchat rumors spread

Josh Cozine

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