13 Year Old Boy Threatened to ‘Shoot Up’ Prescott Middle School

A 13-year-old boy has been arrested and faces terrorism charges after he allegedly threatened to shoot up a middle school in Prescott.

On May 17, a bus driver for Prescott Mile High Middle School reported to school administrators that he heard the boy say he would “shoot up the school” while riding on the bus.

The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office reported that The driver said the child made the threat three times while speaking to him during the bus route prior to being dropped off near his home.

The sheriff’s office was contacted by the school and , officers met with the boy and his mother. The boy allegedly admitted to making the threat on the bus.

The boy told officers that the reason he said that to the bus driver, was to distract the driver while his friend changed seats and moved to the back of the bus. He said he had no intention of doing any harm to the school, the sheriff’s office said.

The boy’s mother confirmed that there were guns inside their home, but they were locked in a safe. The deputy recommended to the mother that the safe combination be changed in case the boy knew the combination.

The boy was arrested and booked into the Yavapai County Juvenile Detention Center. He has been charged on multiple counts, including threatening or intimidating and making a terrorist threat.

“I want to speak directly to the young people out there,” Sheriff David Rhodes said. “I cannot stress enough the seriousness of making a threat to a school, even if you are ‘just kidding’. You will be arrested and charged for making these types of dangerous threats. ‘I wasn’t serious’ isn’t a defense, so please be aware that your words have consequences.”

In the aftermath of the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, authorities are asking everyone to be careful and diligent.