Teen detained after social media threat of gun violence at South Pasadena High School

A South Pasadena High School student was detained Friday after making a social media threat about gun violence on campus, police said.

The 17-year-old boy turned himself in to the South Pasadena Police Department and was taken into custody, Sgt. Spencer Louie said. The boy’s identity was not released because he is a minor.

An investigation was launched Friday morning after someone had taken a snapshot of the threatening post and shown it to police, officials said.

After officers determined the post was created by a student, they went to his home, but he wasn’t there, police said. They eventually managed to reach him by phone.

The threat triggered a brief lockdown of the campus, at 1401 Fremont Ave. in South Pasadena.

“There is no reason for panic,� Principal Janet Anderson said in a message sent to parents. “We just want to exercise the utmost caution. All staff and students are remaining in place with doors locked.�

She said staff and students were key in keeping the “situation as calm as possible.�

This isn’t the first threat directed at the campus.

In September 2014, two South Pasadena High students were charged with planning a mass shooting on campus.

At the time, police said the teenagers developed a plan to carry out a mass shooting and kill “as many people as possible.�

The students allegedly swapped ideas over Skype about using explosives and firearms to target certain school staff members and kill classmates.

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UPDATES:

12:25 p.m.: This article was updated with a student being taken into custody.

10:20 a.m.: This article was updated with comments from Principal Janet Anderson about a suspect being located.

This article was originally published at 9:50 a.m.