A 15-year-old high school student in Cochrane, Alta. has been charged with uttering threats after posting a photo of himself with gun ammunition on Snapchat.
The RCMP said an image posted on the social media platform Friday included a caption warning students not to attend Cochrane High School on Monday.
Snapchat is an image/video messaging app that removes posts automatically after 24 hours.
The youth was arrested and charged, but has been released to his parents’ custody under strict conditions. Police said he’s restricted from having any contact with guns or ammunition, and can only use his personal computer for school purposes until the end of the academic year on June 23.
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“The RCMP is aware that the posting has resulted in speculative social media comment about the safety of students at all Cochrane High Schools,” police said in a statement. “The police have no information to indicate that anyone other than the accused was involved in this incident.”
A letter from the director of communications for Rocky View Schools said RCMP visited all three high schools in Cochrane Monday and determined the threat had “low credibility.”
“I want to assure you, the jurisdiction and our schools were working in cooperation with the RCMP over the course of the day,” Angela Spanier wrote. “Our schools remain a safe place to learn.”
The teen is set to appear in Cochrane Provincial Court June 14.
Cochrane is located about 35 kilometres northwest of Calgary.