2nd Arrest in Torrey Pines High, Canyon Crest Online Threat Investigation

San Diego police confirm an arrest in the threat against Torrey Pines HS hours after telling the public there was no update in the case

Police have made two arrests in alleged online threats that led to two school lockdowns Thursday at Torrey Pines High School and Canyon Crest Academy, according to a post on the school district's website.

San Diego Police Lt. Kevin Mayer announced Friday evening a 16-year-old girl was arrested in connection with the Canyon Crest Academy threat. The minor is not a student at that school.

This arrest comes hours after word that a first juvenile was taken into custody for the Torrey Pines High School incident.

The San Dieguito Union High School District's website posted at 8:15 a.m. Friday morning to announce a suspect was in custody.

In a media briefing at 8:45 a.m., San Diego Police Acting Capt. Stephanie Rose had no information on that report, only to say the department was investigating.

โ€œWe take threats like this very seriously,โ€ Rose said.

Nearly two hours later, SDPD issued a press release confirming a 17-year-old boy had been taken into  police custody Thursday in connection with the threat made against TPHS.

According to the release, the unidentified juvenile was not a student at the high school. An investigation is ongoing to determine if there were any other suspects, officials said.

At this point, the TPHS and CCA incidents do not appear to be connected, Lt. Mayer said.

District officials said TPHS administrators were made aware of a threat toward the school posted on a social media site.

The campus north of San Diego was locked down at approximately 10:25 a.m. with students and teachers told to shelter in place and police officers using patrol cars to block entrances.

Officers went room to room in search of any potential threat.

TPHS Principal David Jaffe said he first learned of the threat through one of the school's parents. He showed a screenshot of the alleged threat and showed it to a San Diego police officer before putting the school on lockdown.

โ€œThe best way to prevent these types or any kind of tragedies is being connected with your students,โ€ Jaffe said. โ€œAnd really encouraging students, parents, faculty that if you see it, say it. Thatโ€™s what happened yesterday.โ€

Jaffe said the school used emails and phone calls to keep parents informed throughout the day.

Jaffe-Torrey-Pines-High-Sch
Torrey High School Principal David Jaffe credited drills with helping staff prepare for the threat.

Just before 1 p.m., students were first spotted leaving classrooms.

At nearby Canyon Crest Academy sophomores Madison Klaire and Cameron Colleran hid underneath their desks in dark classrooms for 45 minutes waiting for police to give them the all clear.

A school secretary called police just before 3 p.m. reporting a threat received through an online source. 

Klaire says a message was sent through Yik Yak that read "on the way with three guns."

While it is supposed to be a digital message board for anonymous posts shared among subscribers in the immediate area. What investigators know that perhaps app users don’t, when it comes to such threats, your identity won’t be protected. NBC 7’s Dave Summers reports.

The school was placed on lockdown as well.  CCA began releasing students at 3:37 p.m.

Yik Yak is a smart phone app that promises anonymity to its users wishing to send messages within a small geographic area.

However, the SDPD Internet Crimes Against Children unit is investigating the source of the threat. Capt. Rose said that perceived anonymity on the internet ceases when someone makes a threat.

In part of a statement emailed to NBC7, Yik Yak spokesperson Jack Bunting wrote:

"Currently, we are finding a best course of action is developing a sincere and responsive dialogue between parents, app creators and the younger generations. An open dialogue allows for the educating of younger generations on the responsible use of social media."

Thursday evening, TPHS and CCA canceled evening activities. However, classes will go on as scheduled Friday.

Contact Us