Teen Arrested After Sammamish High School Threat

BELLEVUE, WA — An 18-year-old faces two felony charges after a threat targeting Sammamish High School prompted a school lockdown on Friday.

In a news release Monday, the Bellevue Police Department said the school was notified of the threat Friday morning. Officers responded to the campus to secure the building and remained there throughout the day while adding patrols at neighboring schools as a precaution, police said.

Seattle police arrested the suspect at his home shortly before 12:30 p.m.

The suspect, a former Sammamish High student, was in court Monday afternoon for a first appearance hearing where prosecutors rush-filed two charges. In court filings, prosecutors said the teen sent threatening texts over Snapchat, including a photo of several guns.

Prosecutors said a judge authorized an extreme risk protection order (ERPO) for the same student just two weeks ago after he made concerning comments to a doctor about wanting to commit a school shooting. ERPOs, approved by voters in 2016, authorize police to seize weapons when a person is a threat to themselves or others.

The former student faces felony harassment and cyber harassment charges. A judge set bail at $1 million in the case.