Violent threat to Desert Hot Springs High leads to arrests of 3 students. Guns seized by police

Three 14-year-old students from Desert Hot Springs High School were arrested Sunday night after authorities said they posted a threat of violence at the school on social media, officials said Monday.

The social media post was reported to a Palm Springs Unified School District staff member on Sunday, district spokeswoman Joan Boiko said at a Monday news conference.

Police also were notified and soon after one girl and two boys were arrested and booked into juvenile hall, Acting Chief Jim Henson said.

The social media post by one of the students threatened a violent act at the school on Monday. Henson would not say what the threat was, what kind of violent act was threatened, or what motivation may have been provided by the suspects. 

"We're still at the beginning of the investigation," he said.

Desert Hot Springs Assistant City Manager Doria Wilms said the department and the city are confident that there is no further threat to students and staff of the school. 

"As a parent with kids at this high school, I understand the fear that many in our community will have hearing something like this," Wilms said at the news conference. "Kiss your kids. Give them a hug. This was thwarted."

Desert Hot Springs police seized two guns from the students, including a Glock semiautomatic handgun and a .357 magnum revolver. They also seized a replica AR15 assault rifle. Department investigators do not yet know if the guns belonged to the students, but Henson said the students had access to them.

At the news conference, Desert Hot Springs Police Detective Larry Gaines held up both the replica AR-15 that was seized and a real AR-15 to demonstrate how similarly they looked.

"There’s no real way to tell this is a fake weapon without actually having it in your hands," Gaines said in the news conference. "This could have ended in a deadly confrontation."

The replica was a pellet gun, and police said owning a pellet gun is not illegal. They are not allowed on school campuses, however.

"The replica gun was seized as evidence in the ongoing investigation," Wilms said.

The students remain in juvenile custody and have been charged with making criminal threats, she said. 

Riverside County District Attorney's Office spokesman John Hall said said he could not discuss the students' case, their custody or potential length of any sentence, explaining that because they are juveniles, "we will not be able to comment."

Boiko, the district spokeswoman, said she could not provide details about the students suspected of making the threat, but did say that they did not have prior records of misbehavior.

Parents were called Monday to alert them about the threat and were told security had been enhanced, according to Boiko's statement. School was in session on Monday. 

Boiko said there are no standard metal detectors at the school, but the district does conduct random handheld metal detector searches. 

“This incident serves as a reminder to our students and staff members about the importance of reporting anything they see or hear that looks, sounds or feels suspicious,” Superintendent Sandra Lyons said in the statement.

Desert Sun reporter Christopher Damien covers crime, public safety and the criminal justice system. He can be reached at christopher.damien@desertsun.com or follow him at @chris_a_damien.