Threats to ‘shoot up’ schools and businesses came from teen in UK, Arizona cops say
A teen in the United Kingdom threatened to “shoot up” several Arizona schools and businesses, police said.
Schools and businesses in Scottsdale received shooting threats from a caller on April 8 and April 11, the Scottsdale Police Department said.
The caller said he was armed and told schools he was planning to shoot at them or was on his way to the school, police said.
Some schools went into lockdown on April 8 following the threats, but police said a “credible threat” wasn’t found.
Targeted schools included Scottsdale Preparatory Academy, Notre Dame Preparatory High School, Scottsdale Unified School District Office, Pima Traditional School, Hohokam Elementary, Cheyenne Traditional School and Cochise Elementary.
Tommy V’s Urban Kitchen and Bar, OHSO Brewery & Distillery and Desert Financial Credit Union also received threatening calls, police said.
Police and the Homeland Security Investigations in Phoenix worked with the department in London to track the caller down.
The teen boy was found and arrested on April 12 near Manchester, England, police said.
Authorities also said the teen was found in the possession of “indecent images of children,” which he is accused of distributing online.
“Scottsdale police would like to remind our community that making threats of violence against individuals, businesses and school facilities are serious crimes,” police said.
