Coeur d’Alene middle school student arrested, charged with falsely reporting school shooting threat

Coeur d’Alene police arrested a middle school student on Thursday on charges of falsely reporting that a school shooting would happen.

The student, a female, whose identity is not being released, attends Lakes Middle School in Coeur d’Alene. She was interviewed by police Thursday morning after she “reported hearing other people discuss the threat” on Halloween, according to a news release.

Coeur d’Alene police Capt. Dave Hagar said the suspect “relayed to another student that they had been approached on Halloween saying they would shoot up the school,” but the story “couldn’t have happened the way she said it.”

Hagar said the suspect is facing misdemeanor charges of making threats on school grounds and false reporting to law enforcement, and she could face a $1,000 fine and jail time or diversion programs, but it’s up to a judge to determine that.

“As student safety is our number one priority, we always encourage students to immediately report any potential threat or suspicious behavior. However, the School District and law enforcement will not tolerate pranks, hoaxes or false reports,” Hagar wrote in a news release. “Those found responsible for such acts will be held accountable.”