On August 25, 2019, at about 1:13 p.m., deputies from the Rosamond Substation were dispatched to investigate a suspicious circumstance. During the course of the investigation, deputies learned an unknown Instagram user had messaged three Desert High School students at Edwards Airforce Base. The suspect threatened to shoot and stab the students at the next football game, and to do the same to the school’s cheerleader team after he raped them. The suspect claimed he was a member of the opposing football team and gave a jersey number. As a result of the threats, deputies notified the Southern California high school where the football game was to take place as well as law enforcement agencies in that area.
Sheriff’s detectives immediately began follow-up on this investigation as the next football game was scheduled for Friday, August 30, 2019. The investigation determined one of the original reported victims was actually the suspect. The 15-year-old juvenile suspect sent the threats via Instagram to his victims, as well as to himself to throw off investigators. The juvenile suspect was arrested and booked into Juvenile Hall for two counts of PC 422, Criminal Threats and PC 148.5(a), False Report of a Crime.
On August 27, 2019, at approximately 7:21 p.m., deputies from the Lamont Substation were dispatched to Alicante Elementary School for suspicious activity. Upon arrival, they learned a nine-year-old student had said he intended to kill teachers and staff. Deputies ensured the juvenile did not have access to firearms. The report will be forwarded to both Juvenile Probation and Child Protective Services.
On August 28, 2019, at approximately 10:47 p.m., deputies from the Kern Valley Substation were dispatched to a suspicious circumstance, where a Kern Valley High School student was seen on social media putting a handgun in his backpack and posted for people to not go to school in the morning. Deputies went to the student’s house and spoke to him and his parents. During the investigation deputies learned the gun was a pellet gun and the student was mimicking a music video. The Kern High School District Police were notified.
All three incidents were thoroughly investigated by deputies and, based on their investigations, none of the juvenile suspects had actual intent to carry out the crimes.
