Deputies Refer Charges on Student Who Falsely Reported a School Threat In Snohomish County

Press release from the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office:

December 6, 2021

SNOHOMISH, Wash. – Sheriff’s Office deputies referred charges for false reporting on a 13-year-old student who falsely accused a classmate of threatening a school shooting.

Around 6:40 p.m. on December 2, Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to investigate a report that a student had allegedly received a phone call from a blocked number saying there would be a school shooting at their school, Hidden River Middle School, the following day. The 13-year-old student reported to deputies that they received a phone call from a specific classmate saying they were going to “shoot up the school” the next day.

Deputies immediately began an investigation into the incident. During the investigation, deputies obtained cell phone records from both the 13-year-old reporting party, as well as the accused classmate. After reviewing the cell phone records, deputies discovered that the 13-year-old reporting party did not receive any incoming phone calls on that day from an unknown number, and the accused classmate did not make any phone calls to the reporting party.

Throughout the investigation, deputies determined the accused classmate did not make any type of threat towards the school or any classmates.

Based on the evidence collected, deputies determined the reporting party had falsely reported receiving a phone call with information threatening a school shooting.

This press release was produced by the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office. The views expressed here are the author’s own.