Teen Made False Report Of CB West Shooting Threat: Bucks DA

DOYLESTOWN, PA —A 19-year-old has been charged after making a false report of an impending shooting at Friday's Central Bucks West High School football game, the Bucks County District Attorney announced.

Jake Paul Cosby, 19, of Chalfont was charged Friday following a multi-agency investigation. He's facing misdemeanor counts of false alarms to agencies of public safety, terroristic threats and false reports to law enforcement.

According to a criminal complaint provided by the Bucks County District Attorney, Cosby told police Friday afternoon that a Central Bucks West student was planning to attempt a mass shooting during the school's football game that night against North Penn High School.

Law enforcement quickly determined his claims were baseless, and hours after making the initial report, Cosby admitted he had lied, the criminal complaint said.

Police first learned of Cosby’s claims just after 1:30 p.m. Friday when officers were contacted about the threat. Cosby told police the student who was planning the mass shooting was going to hide a pistol and assault rifle inside a trash can at or near the football field, according to the criminal complaint.

RELATED: CB West Threat Prompts Police Presence At School, Football Game

Cosby told police he received information about the threat through messages exchanged via Instagram.

Bucks County Detectives examined Cosby's phone and found that there were no messages regarding a threat. Four hours after the initial report, Cosby admitted to police he had lied about the threat to the school and had no knowledge of any threat, the criminal complaint said.

Meanwhile, the situation prompted response from multiple agencies, who prepared to boost security for the game. Officers from the Central Bucks Regional Police Department and Doylestown Township Police Department were present at the game, as well as a bomb-detecting K-9 unit and officer from Quakertown Borough Police Department.

The Central Bucks School District also added additional private security and game officials and coaches from both teams were advised of the reported threat.

“Once we were able to ascertain that this threat had no foundational basis, and that the community was indeed safe, we then focused on holding the individual making these threats criminally accountable for his actions," Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub said.

Cosby was transported for a medical evaluation following his police interview Friday. He is expected to be arraigned in the coming days, the DA's office said.