Student admits to middle school graffiti threats

A 13-year-old boy confessed to writing two threats in the boys’ bathroom at Willowside Middle School west of Santa Rosa Tuesday, a Sonoma County sheriff’s sergeant said.

The boy was released to his parents and school staff will handle follow-up discipline, Sgt. Spencer Crum said.

The sheriff’s office referred the incident to the Sonoma County District Attorney’s Office for possible filing of criminal charges, Crum said.

Crum said:

“At this time we don’t believe the boy was serious about carrying out the threats and he doesn’t have any means to carry out the threats.”

The Willowside Middle School in unincorporated Sonoma County was one of several schools in the Bay Area where threats were made recently on social media or via graffiti at the schools.

A 16-year-old student allegedly wrote a threat in a bathroom at Analy High School in Sebastopol on Feb. 27. He was identified by handwriting analysis and booked into Sonoma County Juvenile Hall.

Threats also were made Monday and Tuesday at Maria Carrillo High School in Santa Rosa.

 

The threats have proliferated across the country since 17 students and staff members were killed in a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14 in Parkland, Florida.