Teen girl arrested for allegedly threatening students at Kennewick school

A 15-year-old was arrested Thursday for allegedly threatening to hurt students at Kennewick’s Phoenix High School.

A student told a parent Thursday evening about a message they had received from a Phoenix High student that included threats to harm students at the school, Kennewick police said in a Facebook post.

Phoenix High is a program designed to support students through adaptable and flexible schedules, according to the school district.

Details about the threats were not immediately available, but the concerned parent called the police.

After investigating and discussions with the prosecutors, police believed there was reason to arrest the teen girl for making the threats, police said. They found and arrested her at her home.

She was booked into the Benton-Franklin Juvenile Detention Center on suspicion of felony threats.

“This arrest occurred within two hours of receiving the initial report, demonstrating the urgency and seriousness with which we respond to threats involving our schools,” Kennewick police said in the Facebook post.

Kennewick police provided additional security at the school Friday morning.

“This incident highlights the critical importance of community members speaking up,” the department said in the Facebook post. “Without the student who reported this information to a trusted adult, law enforcement may not have been made aware of this threat.”