Twin Peaks student suspect in email threat to shoot teacher, students

By Barbara Norton

A 12-year-old Poway boy was taken into custody Saturday by sheriff’s deputies after allegedly sending an email threatening to shoot one of his teachers and 23 students at Twin Peaks Middle School.

The boy was then admitted to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment, where he remains Sunday, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department.

On Saturday morning deputies at the Poway Sheriff’s station learned of the email threat that had been sent to an administrator at the school, according to sheriff’s department.

At a media briefing Sunday afternoon, sheriff’s Capt. Bill Donahue of the Poway Sheriff’s Station said the email stated the shooting would take place Monday morning during second period targeting a named teacher and the students, none of whom were named in the email. The teacher is not being identified.

“The email made reference to 3,000 rounds of ammunition as well as numerous firearms,” Donahue said, reading from a statement. The firearms included an M-16, a .38 Special and an M-4.

The investigation was launched early Saturday morning by law enforcement agencies working with the Poway Unified School District. Detectives identified a 12-year-old Twin Peaks Middle School seventh-grader as a possible suspect and served a search warrant at around 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the student’s residence, according to Donahue.

“Several computers, along with numerous rifle and handguns, were seized from the residence,” Donahue said. The parents cooperated with deputies and were described by Donahue as “shocked” by the incident and the boy was “scared” after being interviewed by detectives.

Although Donahue could not say if any of the weapons seized matched those mentioned in the email, he did say that none were classified as assault weapons. He added all the weapons were locked up and the boy did not have access to them. He stated that this is an isolated incident and there is no evidence that anyone else is involved.

Also at the briefing was PUSD Superintendent John Collins, who acknowledged the quick response of the sheriff’s and school personnel and thanked the parents of the child for their cooperation, saying the situation is “sad and disturbing.” He said the district is bringing counselors from their crisis intervention team to campus to assist “keeping the day orderly” with the help of the sheriff’s department.

“Tomorrow will be a normal day at Twin Peaks.” Collins said.

Also attending the briefing were Poway Mayor Don Higginson and PUSD School Board President Marc Davis.