Local law enforcement officials arrest second juvenile suspect in two weeks regarding school threats

By The Leader Staff
A 13-year-old juvenile suspect was arrested by Kings County law enforcement for posting this photo on a social media service.
A 13-year-old juvenile suspect was arrested by Kings County law enforcement for posting this photo on a social media service.
Photo Submitted by Kings County Sheriffs Department

For the second time in two weeks, Kings County law enforcement officials have arrested a juvenile on suspicion of threatening a local school. On Thursday, May 5, the Navy Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) contacted the Kings Sheriff’s Office regarding a threatening photo posted on the social media service, Snapchat.

Agents learned that a 13-year-old male might have posted a photograph of a gun shop storefront advertising “Guns, Ammo, Rods, Reels.” Embossed on the photo was the threatening phrase “be ready Akers,” which law enforcement perceived as a possible threat to a local middle school at Naval Air Station Lemoore.

Thursday’s events come on the heels of the May 1 arrest of a Lemoore Union High School District 17-year-old suspect who Lemoore Police Department officials suspect of threatening to “shoot up the school.”

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The school’s Youth Development Officer began an investigation that eventually found the suspect in Hanford. He was arrested and booked into the Kings County Juvenile Detention Center on suspicion of criminal threats.

Lemoore police also searched the boy’s home and did not find any firearms.

In the most recent incident, sheriff’s officials believe the photo and its message referred to Akers Middle School. During the investigation, law enforcement officers identified the male juvenile and contacted him. Deputies report that the juvenile suspect admitted to posting the photograph and showed investigators the post. No weapons were located at the juvenile’s home. The 13-year-old youth was arrested and booked into the Kings County Juvenile Center.

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