SPOKANE, Wash. — On the night of Sept. 28, Spokane Police started getting calls reporting a threat against several middle and high schools in District 81.
The online threat warned students to stay home the next day, saying a group would bring guns, knives and weapons of destruction to every school in Spokane they could get to.
Police began investigating around 8:30 p.m. and were knocking at the suspect's door just four hours later. Court documents say SPD detectives were contacted by the FBI. A social media company had reported the threat and provided authorities with a username and associated email account. Police were then able to identify an IP address, which lead them to a home near the North Town Mall.
Police spoke with a 14-year-old boy who said he was aware of the threat, but denied creating it. The boy's mom then gave police her son's phone and tablet. During a follow-up interview the next morning, the boy told police, "I did it as a joke. I did it to scam my friends."
Court documents say the boy posted the names of schools in Spokane he was familiar with, but again told police it was all part of a joke he wast trying to play. By 6 a.m. the following morning, Spokane Public Schools (SPS) sent a message to parents, letting them know Spokane Police confirmed the threat was not credible.
KREM 2 is not naming the student since he is a juvenile. Even though court documents say he admitted to creating the threat, police say they are continuing to actively investigate the case.
So far, the 14-year-old has not been arrested.
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