MADERA – A Madera High School student has been arrested for making a threat Monday to shoot up the school on Thursday, a day before graduation. Police arrested the student after he wrote a message on the wall of a bathroom stall implying violence against Madera High School.

School officials found the threat was found Monday and police with the help of the school’s staff and administrators, officers identified the student and made an arrest. The student has claimed the written statement was a practical joke and he meant no harm. Facebook reports say the threat was written in blood or red ink.

Madera Police has released this statement regarding the incident, “In recent years we have seen an increase in students making threats at public schools. Normally these threats are written in graffiti in the restrooms, or anonymously scribbled on a wall, with vague statements of implied violence. Usually, these are made by a student who considers the act a juvenile prank.”

“We do not treat them in this manner; we investigate each case thoroughly and aggressively. A statement was written in a bathroom stall at Madera High School on Monday, June 3rd. Investigators with the Madera Police Department, with full assistance from the staff of Madera High School, investigated the incident and identified the culprit. He was arrested and booked for the statements made.“

“The student was insistent this was just a practical joke, and he meant no harm to anybody. Please understand the Police Department and Madera Unified School District will always do whatever is necessary to ensure the welfare of all students in our community and make the school a safe location for learning. Communicate to your children that words do matter, and can have very strong negative, or positive, impacts on their lives and the lives of others around them.“

Parents remind your children that all school threats are thoroughly investigated with law enforcement and never tolerated.  The safety and well-being of students and staff is a highest priority.