On May 26, 2022, at about 3:22 AM, the Tracy Police Department Communications Center received information about a threatened school shooting. The tip was received through information sharing with the Federal Bureau of Investigations, who reported a social media post, in which there was a clear threat of harm and a picture of a specific school. Officers from the Patrol Division immediately began an investigation into the matter.
Our investigation led us to a home in west Tracy. Contact was made with a 16-year-old male and his parents. The juvenile, who was not a student in the Tracy Unified School District, admitted to making the threat but indicated he had no plans to carry out any violent action, a violation of California Penal Code 422.2(a), Criminal Threats against a School or Place of Worship. The juvenile voluntarily led officers to a realistic-looking BB gun, of which his parents were unaware. A search revealed no firearms or other items of contraband.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the juvenile was arrested by the School Resource Officers assigned to the Tracy Unified School District. As a result of this incident, and the heightened concerns about school safety, the Tracy Police Department provided additional patrols. We will continue to be vigilant in addressing any threats of community violence, regardless of intent.
Let us be perfectly clear, making criminal threats to harm others has no place in a civilized society. We will not tolerate it in our community and will use the full weight of the justice system to bring those responsible to justice. The loss of life is not a joking matter.
The juvenile remains in custody for the above-noted charges. This is an ongoing investigation; anyone with information is encouraged to contact Officer Flores at Steve.Flores@tracypd.com.
