Tri-Cities

Piedra Vista High student charged by Farmington Police after social media threat

Instagram post showed a gun and threatening message
(Alx Lee/Tri-City Record)

Farmington Police Department officers and Piedra Vista personnel have identified a 15-year-old male student as the suspect responsible for an Instagram post Friday that showed a person holding a firearm and contained a threatening message, according to a police news release.

“Following the investigation, the student was charged with interference with the educational process and unlawful possession of a handgun by a person under 19 years of age,” the news release said.

The suspect is a juvenile, so the identity cannot be publicly released, according to FPD.

“We urge parents to speak with their children about the importance of responsible online behavior and the potential ramifications of threatening actions,” the release said. “We will continue to work with Farmington Municipal Schools to ensure the safety of all our children.”

School threats are taken seriously and social media posts are neither funny nor harmless. The police department will attempt to prosecute to the fullest extent of the law possible, the news release said.

An email sent to PV families and community on Friday informed parents that the district was working with FPD to identify the student.

School activities resumed as normal for the remainder of the day, according to the email.

“Please know that safety is one of our most important priorities and that we will be following our security procedures as classes and activities resume as scheduled,” the email said.