FRIENDSWOOD, Texas – Two Clear Creek Independent School District students have been arrested and are facing criminal charges after officials said they made threats to the school.
Clear Brook High School students spotted the threats posted on Snapchat and alerted staff, according to a spokesperson for Clear Creek ISD.
A spokesperson for the school district said two students made two different threats which that were not related to each other.
The Harris County district attorney said the first student forewarned students not to attend school because he was going to shoot up the school. Officials said he posted a video on social media with a gun stating he was practicing for tomorrow's shooting.
The second student also told students not to come to school because at 10:30 he was going to honor his heroes, the "Columbine shooters." The Harris County district attorney's office said the student posted a photo on social media of himself pointing a pistol at two schoolmates in the hallway.
"We want our parents to know that that image is, from what the suspect tells us, was photo-shopped and he actually recreated that whole process in front of administration and officers just to make sure," a Clear Creek ISD spokesperson said.
The threats posted to social media were believed to be tied to the anniversary of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, which left 12 dead and 21 students injured.
"What we know right now is that there were images on Snapchat that were circulating among students...this community. And as you know with Snapchat, you play it, it goes away. And these students were alert enough to take photos of their own cameras of those images, and that's what was shared with police and campus administration," a Clear Creek ISD spokesperson said.
Officials said the students admitted their involvement and were in custody an hour after the investigation began.
In a letter sent home to parents, Principal Michele Staley told parents extra police were on campus and that police were using a K-9 to search the school.
Officials said a gun was not displayed or found.
Staley released the following statement:
"To keep you informed, police arrested two Clear Brook High School students for making threats to the school via social media.
"Our team became aware of the social media activity first thing this morning, and by 8:45 a.m., the students involved were arrested and the district attorney has already filed criminal charges.
"We have extra officers at the school as a precautionary measure. I realize this news may be unsettling, but please be assured that your children are safe at school and this matter is being handled expeditiously.
"I will update you as soon as we get more information."
Both students are still in custody and they are scheduled to appear in juvenile detention court on Monday April 24.
