Liberal student arrested after threats posted via social media

A 13-year-old boy has been arrested in Liberal after a threat was posted on social media, authorities announced Wednesday afternoon.

School officials were alerted to the threat posted on Snapchat on Monday, which was “a perceived threat on our two middle schools and Liberal High School,” a statement on the Liberal Public Schools Facebook page said.

Liberal police launched an investigation that led to the arrest.

“Through further investigation, it was determined that the suspect did not have the means to carry out the violent act,” the school statement said.

Liberal High School, Eisenhower Middle School and Seymour Rogers Middle School were targeted by the threats, which were communicated using the anonymous messaging app Sarahah linked to students’ Snapchat accounts, officials said.

Investigators found numerous copycat messages over the course of their inquiry.

The arrested teen is being held at the Southwest Regional Juvenile Detention Center.

This story was originally published January 17, 2018 at 4:17 PM with the headline "Liberal student arrested after threats posted via social media."