School Shooting Hoax Leads To Teen's Arrest In Long Beach

LONG BEACH, CA — A 14-year-old boy has been arrested after calling police to falsely report a school shooting at a Long Beach campus, according to authorities.

The shooting hoax happened on April 2, prompting officers and Long Beach Unified School District safety personnel to respond to the campus, the Long Beach Police Department said in a statement Friday. The LBPD did not say what school this happened at.

Authorities ensured the campus was safe and later discovered a 14-year-old reported the school shooting as a prank, according to police, who said they arrested the teen. His name was not available because of his age and it's unclear what he was booked on suspicion of.

"The Long Police Department and Long Beach Unified School District take all school threats and reports of crime at school campuses seriously," the LBPD said in a statement Friday. "Making a threat or falsely reporting a crime, even if intended as a prank, can significantly impact our schools and community, including causing a disruption to learning and creating anxiety and fear."

The LBPD asked parents and guardians to make their children aware of the "serious consequences of making threats and falsely reporting crime."

"Together, we can ensure our schools are safe spaces for students, staff and families," the LBPD said.