Student Accused Of Bringing Replica Gun To East County School, Making Threats

SPRING VALLEY, CA — A student at an East County magnet school was arrested on suspicion of threatening another student and bringing a replica BB gun to campus Monday, authorities said.

Deputies received a call about a school threat just before 2:30 p.m. at STEAM Academy at 1001 Leland St. in Spring Valley, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Office. School administrators told deputies they had identified the suspect and had sent the student to the school office.

Administrators placed the school on secure campus shortly before 3 p.m. and kept students and staff indoors. Deputies as well as sheriff's explosives detection K-9s searched the campus and found a replica BB gun, according to the sheriff's office. The secure campus status was lifted around 5 p.m.

The suspect was arrested and booked into Juvenile Hall on suspicion of making criminal threats and openly displaying or exposing a replica firearm in a public place, the sheriff's office said.