A 15-year-old student at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach was arrested for allegedly superimposing an image of a pellet gun over a Snapchat photo of fellow pupils.
Manhattan Beach police learned Thursday of the social media image, which showed the handgun pointed at students. Staff at the school informed the facility’s resource officer, who was on campus at the time, according to Manhattan Beach police Sgt. Tim Zins.
“The student was identified and admitted to `stickering’ a photo of an Airsoft handgun over a photo of students on campus,” Zins said. “No gun was brought onto the campus. The student was arrested and booked at the Manhattan Beach Police Department for criminal threats.”
Police determined there was no immediate threat to students on the campus, Zins said, adding that the boy has since been released to his parents.
The arrest comes a day after a teen gunman committed a deadly mass shooting at a high school in Florida.
“We have assigned officers to conduct directed patrols in and around all of our schools for the next several weeks during the morning and afternoon hours,” Zins said.
—City News Service