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Student arrested for prank call that prompted school lockdowns

by The AV Times Staff • April 30, 2013

The caller who falsely reported that there had been a shooting at Amargosa Creek Middle School has been arrested and now  faces up to one year in a juvenile detention facility.
The caller who falsely reported that there had been a shooting at Amargosa Creek Middle School has been arrested and now faces up to one year in a juvenile detention facility, if convicted.

LANCASTER – Authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with the prank 911 call that triggered two school lockdowns last week.

A 13-year-old Amargosa Creek Middle School student was arrested Monday afternoon after confessing to calling in the false emergency report, according to Lancaster Community Relations deputy Michael Rust. Authorities are not releasing the suspect’s name because the suspect is a minor.

The following is the press report from the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station:

An anonymous tip made though the “Crime Stoppers” tip line, lead to the arrest of a Middle School student Monday afternoon.

The incident began shortly after 1PM Thursday (April 25, 2013), when Lancaster Sheriff’s Station received a 911 call from an unidentified person. The caller reported that there had been a shooting at Amargosa Creek Middle School. The campus was placed on “lock down” for several hours while over a dozen deputies from Lancaster station conducted a room by room search of the school. During this same time, the staff at nearby Lancaster High School initiated a voluntary “lock down” of their campus.

It was determined that the call was a prank, and that there was no emergency at either campus.

During the weekend, Lancaster Station received several tips from the “Crime Stoppers” tip line regarding the incident and the identity of the caller. On Monday (April 29, 2013) Lancaster Station School Resource Deputy Gruppie, arrested a 13 year old Amargosa Creek Middle School student who admitted making the call.

The student was arrested for making a false emergency call, and was released to his parents. If convicted, the student faces up to one year in a juvenile detention facility. Additionally, his parents could be held responsible for the cost of the emergency response by Law Enforcement.

Parents are urged to educate their children on the seriousness of making “prank emergency” calls.

Lancaster Station would like to thank the staff and students of both schools for their professionalism and cooperation during this incident.

Previous related story: Prank call locks down two schools

Filed Under: Crime/ Safety

4 comments for "Student arrested for prank call that prompted school lockdowns"

  1. dumbandblind says

    May 1, 2013 at 6:03 am

    The parents should be the one arrested and jailed for failing to instill sense in their kid!

  2. Martha says

    May 1, 2013 at 2:56 am

    its one thing for a teenager to prank call a friend or a store, ive done it in my time also years ago, but what he did went way too far. He is old enough to know what he did, and I hope he serves his time.

  3. Karaleigh says

    April 30, 2013 at 9:27 pm

    I’d like to add that Lancaster High wasn’t the only other school that went on lockdown.
    Miller Elementary and Sunnydale Elementary also went code blue. There might even be others.
    The fear that this created for thousands of students is awful.
    Hundreds of children had to hide in fear for their lives. Not knowing what was going on.
    This child made a horrible mistake, I do hope that he is made to do community service, but jailing him for a year at this age seems too harsh.

  4. Melissa says

    April 30, 2013 at 1:32 pm

    I hope he does get the full year in juvenile detention! His little prank caused me to have to call into work late because I was so concerned about what was going on with my two kids at the high school. I couldn’t get any information from the school or the school district that day. I have never been so scared in all of my life. The little twit, and not his parents should have to pay for it. But in the end, I’m glad it was only a prank and that no one was hurt.

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