RCMP charge youth with school threat hoax

RCMP in Red Deer have charged a 16-year-old male after an alleged threat against a local high school turned out to be a hoax.

Police said the youth took a photo of a friend holding anairsoftrifle and posted it to social media Sunday evening, with a warning that students shouldn't go to school the next day. Anairsoftrifle is a replica firearm that can fire projectiles.

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"Perhaps the suspect thought he was playing a joke, but RCMP take public safety threats very seriously," said RCMP Cpl. Karyn Kay in a news release.

Investigators, working with the Red Deer Public School District, said they "very quickly" determined there was no actual threat and that the person in the photo didn't know the context in which his image was being shared.

The youth who allegedly took the picture now faces a Criminal Code charge of False Information (Intent to Alarm).

"Actions such as this can spread incredibly fast through social media and cause panic and trauma to hundreds of people," said Kay.

Police plan tovisit Hunting Hills High SchoolMonday morning to reassure students and staff.