NORTH FORK – A threat made on social media this morning had parents and students at the North Fork School in fear of returning to their classrooms after spring break.
This morning, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office received a report that a student from North Fork Elementary School used social media to post a threat of a school shooting.
One parent provided this screenshot of the posting online that read: “On Tuesday, April 3rd at North Fork elementary at 9:30 a.m. I’m gonna shoot up the school. I’m tired if [sic] bullies and assholes so if u don’t want to die don’t come to school.”
The female student was identified and arrested for criminal threats. The Sheriff’s Office says their investigation determined that the girl did not have access to any guns or other weapons.
“She stated that she made the threat due to seeing other school shootings on social media and because she felt she was bullied at school,” said the Sheriff’s Office. “The investigation revealed that she acted alone.”
The student has been booked at the Madera County Juvenile Hall.
Just after 3:30 p.m. today, North Fork School principal Jared Pierce sent out this message to parents:
Good afternoon, North Fork families. This is Jared Pierce with an important message. In the last 24 hours, a student made a threat to harm students at North Fork School. The threat was made on social media using a fictitious name.
District personnel and Madera County Sheriff’s personnel worked together to investigate the threat. An arrest has been made and a suspect has been taken into custody. North Fork School is not in any danger and school will resume on Tuesday.
We would like to thank the Madera County Sheriff’s office for their swift and decisive action on this matter, especially Deputy Lutz and Sergeant Tallmon. Also, we would like to thank the students and parents for providing the evidence that assisted with this case. School and community safety is a team effort.
Have a restful Spring Break and we’ll see you on Tuesday.
The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind the public that threats of this nature “are treated seriously and will not be tolerated.”
